Dynamic collocation of virtual content

Abstract

To enable dynamic collocation of virtual content.SOLUTION: Described is a step of receiving first and second persistent coordinate data and relational data. Third and fourth persistent coordinate data are then determined based on input received via a head-wearable device and whether the first and third persistent coordinate data correspond or not is determined, in which case it is determined whether the second and fourth persistent coordinate data correspond, in which case a virtual object can be displayed using the relational data and the second persistent coordinate data via a display of the head-wearable device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 972,541, filed February 10, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for displaying virtual content to a user, and more particularly to systems and methods for displaying virtual content to a user within a mixed reality environment. [Background technology]

[0003] Virtual environments are ubiquitous in computing environments, finding use in video games (where a virtual environment may represent a game world), maps (where a virtual environment may represent a terrain to be navigated), simulations (where a virtual environment may simulate a real environment), digital storytelling (where virtual characters may interact with one another within a virtual environment), and many other applications. Modern computer users are generally comfortable perceiving and interacting with virtual environments. However, a user's experience with a virtual environment may be limited by the technology for presenting the virtual environment. For example, traditional displays (e.g., 2D display screens) and audio systems (e.g., fixed speakers) may be unable to realize a virtual environment in a way that creates a compelling, realistic, and immersive experience.

[0004] Virtual reality (“VR”), augmented reality (“AR”), mixed reality (“MR”), and related technologies (collectively, “XR”) share the ability to present to a user of an XR system sensory information corresponding to a virtual environment represented by data in a computer system. This disclosure considers uniqueness among VR, AR, and MR systems (although some systems may be categorized as VR in one aspect (e.g., visual aspect) and simultaneously categorized as AR or MR in another aspect (e.g., audio aspect)). As used herein, a VR system presents a virtual environment that replaces the user's real environment in at least one aspect. For example, a VR system may present a user with a view of the virtual environment while simultaneously obscuring that view of the real environment, such as with an optically blocking head-mounted display. Similarly, a VR system may present a user with audio corresponding to the virtual environment while simultaneously blocking (attenuating) the audio from the real environment.

[0005] VR systems may suffer from various drawbacks resulting from replacing a user's real environment with a virtual environment. One drawback is motion sickness, which can occur when a user's field of view within the virtual environment no longer corresponds to the state of their inner ear, which detects their balance and orientation in the real (but not the virtual) environment. Similarly, a user may experience disorientation within a VR environment if their body and limbs (the view upon which the user relies to feel "grounded" in the real environment) are not directly visible. Another drawback is the computational burden (e.g., memory, processing power) imposed on a VR system that must present a fully 3D virtual environment, especially in real-time applications that seek to immerse a user in the virtual environment. Similarly, such an environment may need to reach a very high level of realism to be considered immersive, as users tend to be sensitive to even slight imperfections in the virtual environment, any of which can destroy the user's sense of immersion in the virtual environment. Furthermore, another disadvantage of VR systems is that such applications of the systems cannot take advantage of the wide range of sensory data in the real environment, such as the various sights and sounds experienced in the real world. A related disadvantage is that VR systems may struggle to create shared environments in which multiple users can interact, because users who share physical space in the real environment may not be able to see or interact with each other directly in the virtual environment.

[0006] As used herein, an AR system presents a virtual environment that overlaps or overlays the real environment in at least one aspect. For example, an AR system may present a user with a view of the virtual environment overlaid on the user's view of the real environment, such as using a see-through head-mounted display that presents a displayed image while allowing light to pass through the display into the user's eyes. Similarly, an AR system may present a user with audio corresponding to the virtual environment while simultaneously mixing in audio from the real environment. Similarly, as used herein, an MR system, like an AR system, may present a virtual environment that overlaps or overlays the real environment in at least one aspect, and may additionally allow the virtual environment in the MR system to interact with the real environment in at least one aspect. For example, a virtual character in the virtual environment may flip a light switch in the real environment, causing a corresponding light bulb in the real environment to turn on or off. As another example, the virtual character may react to audio signals in the real environment (such as with facial expressions). By maintaining the presentation of the real environment, AR and MR systems may avoid some of the aforementioned disadvantages of VR systems. For example, motion sickness in a user is reduced because visual cues from the real environment (including the user's own body) can remain visible and such systems do not need to present the user with a fully realized 3D environment to be immersive. Furthermore, AR and MR systems can create new applications that utilize real-world sensory input (e.g., views and sounds of scenery, objects, and other users) to augment that input.

[0007] In addition to single-user applications, XR systems can benefit from multi-user environments. Because AR and / or MR systems blend real-world and virtual environments, users of XR systems may often reside within the same real-world space. To successfully blur the boundary between real and virtual content, it may be beneficial for users of an XR system to view the same virtual content in the same location as other users of the XR system who reside in the same real-world space. Virtual object collocation (i.e., when multiple users perceive the same virtual object as being co-located, as if they were viewing the same real object) can enable users to view and experience shared virtual content in the same way that they view and experience shared real content. Virtual object collocation can enable productivity and immersion because users can share the same mixed reality experience. Enabling an XR system to co-locate virtual objects across multiple users and / or XR systems allows users to interact with other users while remaining immersed in the mixed reality environment.

[0008] XR systems can provide a uniquely enhanced sense of immersion and realism by combining virtual visual and audio cues with real sights and sounds. Thus, in some XR systems, it is desirable to present a virtual environment that enhances, refines, or modifies a corresponding real environment. This disclosure relates to an XR system that enables consistent placement of virtual objects across multiple XR systems. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An embodiment of the present disclosure describes a system and method for co-locating virtual content. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include receiving first persistent coordinate data, second persistent coordinate data, and relationship data. The third persistent coordinate data and fourth persistent coordinate data may be determined based on input received via one or more sensors of the head-worn device. It may be determined whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data. In accordance with determining that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data, it may be determined whether the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data. In accordance with determining that the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data, a virtual object may be displayed via a display of the head-worn device using the relationship data and the second persistent coordinate data. In accordance with determining that the second persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the fourth persistent coordinate data, a virtual object may be displayed via a display of the head-worn device using the relationship data and the first persistent coordinate data. In accordance with determining that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the third persistent coordinate data, the method may include not displaying the virtual object via the head-worn device. The present invention provides, for example, the following items. (Item 1) 1. A system comprising: a head-worn device having a display and one or more sensors; one or more processors, receiving first persistent coordinate data, second persistent coordinate data, and relationship data; determining third persistent coordinate data and fourth persistent coordinate data based on input received via the one or more sensors; determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data; In response to determining that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data, determining whether the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data; In response to determining that the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data, displaying a virtual object using the relationship data and the second persistent coordinate data via a display of the head-worn device; in response to determining that the second persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the fourth persistent coordinate data; displaying the virtual object using the relationship data and the first persistent coordinate data via a display of the head-worn device; in response to determining that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the third persistent coordinate data; not displaying the virtual object via a display of the head-worn device; one or more processors configured to perform a method including: A system comprising: (Item 2) Item 1. The system of item 1, wherein the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to a first location and the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to a second location, the second location being closer to the location of the head-worn device than the first location. (Item 3) Item 10. The system of item 1, wherein the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device and the first persistent coordinate data is received from a second head-mounted device. (Item 4) Item 10. The system of item 1, wherein the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device and the relationship data is received from a second head-mounted device. (Item 5) Item 10. The system of item 1, wherein the method further includes receiving data corresponding to the virtual object. (Item 6) Item 10. The system of item 1, wherein the third persistent coordinate data corresponds to a current location of the head-worn device. (Item 7) Item 10. The system of item 1, wherein the relational data comprises a transformation matrix. (Item 8) 1. A method comprising: receiving first persistent coordinate data, second persistent coordinate data, and relationship data; determining third and fourth persistent coordinate data based on input received via one or more sensors of the head-worn device; determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data; In response to determining that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data, determining whether the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data; In response to determining that the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data, displaying a virtual object using the relationship data and the second persistent coordinate data via a display of the head-worn device; in response to determining that the second persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the fourth persistent coordinate data; displaying the virtual object using the relationship data and the first persistent coordinate data via a display of the head-worn device; in response to determining that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the third persistent coordinate data; not displaying the virtual object via a display of the head-worn device; A method comprising: (Item 9) Item 9. The method of item 8, wherein the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to a first location and the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to a second location, the second location being closer to the location of the head-worn device than the first location. (Item 10) Item 9. The method of item 8, wherein the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device and the first persistent coordinate data is received from a second head-mounted device. (Item 11) Item 9. The method of item 8, wherein the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device and the relationship data is received from a second head-mounted device. (Item 12) Item 9. The method of item 8, further comprising receiving data corresponding to the virtual object. (Item 13) Item 9. The method of item 8, wherein the third persistent coordinate data corresponds to a current location of the head-worn device. (Item 14) Item 9. The method of item 8, wherein the relational data comprises a transformation matrix. (Item 15) A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receiving first persistent coordinate data, second persistent coordinate data, and relationship data; determining third and fourth persistent coordinate data based on input received via one or more sensors of the head-worn device; determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to third persistent coordinate data; In response to determining that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data, determining whether the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data; In response to determining that the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data, displaying a virtual object using the relationship data and the second persistent coordinate data via a display of the head-worn device; in response to determining that the second persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the fourth persistent coordinate data; displaying a virtual object using the relationship data and the first persistent coordinate data via a display of the head-worn device; in response to determining that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the third persistent coordinate data; not displaying the virtual object via a display of the head-worn device; A non-transitory computer-readable medium for performing a method comprising: (Item 16) Item 16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 15, wherein the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to a first location and the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to a second location, the second location being closer to a location of the head-worn device than the first location. (Item 17) Item 16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 15, wherein the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device and the first persistent coordinate data is received from a second head-mounted device. (Item 18) Item 16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 15, wherein the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device and the relationship data is received from a second head-mounted device. (Item 19) Item 16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 15, wherein the method further includes receiving data corresponding to the virtual object. (Item 20) Item 16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 15, wherein the third persistent coordinate data corresponds to a current location of the head-worn device. (Item 21) Item 16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 15, wherein the relational data comprises a transformation matrix. (Item 22) 1. A system comprising: a head-worn device having a display and one or more sensors; one or more processors, receiving first persistent coordinate data; receiving relationship data, the relationship data relating a location to the first persistent coordinate data; determining second persistent coordinate data based on input received via the one or more sensors; determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the second persistent coordinate data; displaying, via a display of the head-worn device, a virtual object based on the first persistent coordinate data and based on the relationship data in accordance with determining that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the second persistent coordinate data; In response to determining that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the second persistent coordinate data, not displaying the virtual object via a display of the head-worn device. one or more processors configured to perform a method including: A system comprising: (Item 23) 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device, and the method further includes transmitting the second persistent coordinate data to a second head-mounted device. (Item 24) 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device and the first persistent coordinate data is received from a second head-mounted device. (Item 25) 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device and the relationship data is received from a second head-mounted device. (Item 26) 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the method further includes receiving data corresponding to the virtual object. (Item 27) 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to a current location of the head-worn device. (Item 28) 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the relational data comprises a transformation matrix. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1A] 1A-1C illustrate an exemplary mixed reality environment, according to some embodiments. [Figure 1B] 1A-1C illustrate an exemplary mixed reality environment, according to some embodiments. [Figure 1C] 1A-1C illustrate an exemplary mixed reality environment, according to some embodiments.

[0011] [Figure 2A] 2A-2D illustrate components of an example mixed reality system that can be used to generate and interact with a mixed reality environment, according to some embodiments. [Figure 2B] 2A-2D illustrate components of an example mixed reality system that can be used to generate and interact with a mixed reality environment, according to some embodiments. [Figure 2C] 2A-2D illustrate components of an example mixed reality system that can be used to generate and interact with a mixed reality environment, according to some embodiments. [Figure 2D]2A-2D illustrate components of an example mixed reality system that can be used to generate and interact with a mixed reality environment, according to some embodiments.

[0012] [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary mixed reality handheld controller that can be used to provide input to a mixed reality environment, according to some embodiments.

[0013] [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B illustrates an example auxiliary unit that may be used with an example mixed reality system, according to some embodiments.

[0014] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates an example functional block diagram for an example mixed reality system, according to some embodiments.

[0015] [Figure 5] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of virtual object collocation, according to some embodiments.

[0016] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of virtual object collocation, according to some embodiments.

[0017] [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of virtual object collocation across multiple environments, according to some embodiments.

[0018] [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates an example network architecture for virtual object collocation, according to some embodiments.

[0019] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary process for collocating virtual content, according to some embodiments.

[0020] [Figure 10] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary process for connecting with one or more MR systems and initiating a co-located session, according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Detailed Description In the following description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments which may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be used and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments.

[0022] Mixed Reality Environment

[0023] Like all people, users of mixed reality systems exist in a real environment, i.e., three-dimensional portions of the "real world" and all of its content are perceptible to the user. For example, users perceive the real environment using normal human senses, i.e., sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, and interact with the real environment by moving their body within the real environment. Locations within the real environment can be described as coordinates within a coordinate space. For example, coordinates can include latitude, longitude, and altitude relative to sea level, distance in three orthogonal dimensions from a reference point, or other suitable values. Similarly, a vector can describe a quantity, having a direction and magnitude within the coordinate space.

[0024] A computing device may maintain a representation of a virtual environment, for example, in a memory associated with the device. As used herein, a virtual environment is a computed representation of a three-dimensional space. The virtual environment may include representations of any objects, actions, signals, parameters, coordinates, vectors, or other properties associated with that space. In some examples, circuitry (e.g., a processor) of a computing device may maintain and update the state of the virtual environment. That is, the processor may determine the state of the virtual environment at a second time t1 based on data associated with the virtual environment and / or input provided by a user at a first time t0. For example, if an object in the virtual environment is located at a first coordinate and has certain programmed physical parameters (e.g., mass, coefficient of friction) at time t0, and input received from the user indicates that a force should be applied to the object in a certain directional vector, the processor may apply the laws of kinematics and use basic mechanics to determine the location of the object at time t1. The processor may determine the state of the virtual environment at time t1 using any suitable information known about the virtual environment and / or any suitable input. In maintaining and updating the state of the virtual environment, the processor may execute any suitable software, including software related to creating and deleting virtual objects within the virtual environment, software (e.g., scripts) for defining the behavior of virtual objects or characters within the virtual environment, software for defining the behavior of signals (e.g., audio signals) within the virtual environment, software for creating and updating parameters associated with the virtual environment, software for generating audio signals within the virtual environment, software for handling input and output, software for implementing network operations, software for applying asset data (e.g., animation data for moving a virtual object over time), or many other possibilities.

[0025] An output device, such as a display or speakers, can present any or all aspects of the virtual environment to the user. For example, the virtual environment may include virtual objects (which may include representations of inanimate objects, people, animals, lights, etc.) that can be presented to the user. A processor can determine a view of the virtual environment (e.g., corresponding to a "camera," with its origin coordinates, viewing axis, and frustum) and render on the display a viewable scene of the virtual environment corresponding to that view. Any suitable rendering technique may be used for this purpose. In some examples, the viewable scene may include only some virtual objects in the virtual environment and exclude certain other virtual objects. Similarly, the virtual environment may include audio aspects that can be presented to the user as one or more audio signals. For example, a virtual object in the virtual environment may generate a sound originating from the object's location coordinates (e.g., a virtual character may speak or produce a sound effect), or the virtual environment may be associated with a musical cue or ambient sound that may or may not be associated with a particular location. The processor can determine audio signals corresponding to the "listener" coordinates, e.g., audio signals corresponding to the synthesis of sounds in the virtual environment and mixed and processed to simulate the audio signals that would be heard by a listener at the listener coordinates, and present the audio signals to the user via one or more speakers.

[0026] Because the virtual environment exists only as a computational construct, the user cannot directly perceive the virtual environment using their normal senses. Instead, the user can only indirectly perceive the virtual environment, as presented to the user, for example, by a display, speakers, tactile output device, etc. Similarly, the user cannot directly touch, manipulate, or otherwise interact with the virtual environment, but can provide input data via input devices or sensors to a processor, which can use the device or sensor data to update the virtual environment. For example, a camera sensor can provide optical data indicating that the user is attempting to move an object in the virtual environment, and the processor can use that data to cause the object to respond appropriately within the virtual environment.

[0027] A mixed reality system can present a user with a mixed reality environment (“MRE”) that combines aspects of a real environment and a virtual environment, for example, using a see-through display and / or one or more speakers (which may, for example, be incorporated into a wearable head device). In some embodiments, the one or more speakers may be external to the head-mounted wearable unit. As used herein, an MRE is a simultaneous representation of a real environment and a corresponding virtual environment. In some examples, the corresponding real and virtual environments share a single coordinate space. In some examples, the real coordinate space and the corresponding virtual coordinate space are related to each other by a transformation matrix (or other suitable representation). Thus, a single coordinate (in some examples, together with the transformation matrix) may define a first location in the real environment and a second corresponding location in the virtual environment, and vice versa.

[0028] In an MRE, a virtual object (e.g., in a virtual environment associated with the MRE) may correspond to a real object (e.g., in a real environment associated with the MRE). For example, if the real environment of the MRE includes a real lamppost (real object) at certain location coordinates, the virtual environment of the MRE may include a virtual lamppost (virtual object) at the corresponding location coordinates. As used herein, a real object combined with its corresponding virtual object constitutes a “mixed reality object.” It is not necessary for a virtual object to perfectly match or match the corresponding real object. In some embodiments, a virtual object can be a simplified version of the corresponding real object. For example, if the real environment includes a real lamppost, the corresponding virtual object may include a cylinder of approximately the same height and radius as the real lamppost (reflecting that a lamppost may be approximately cylindrical in shape). Simplifying virtual objects in this way can enable computational efficiency and simplify calculations to be performed on such virtual objects. Furthermore, in some embodiments of an MRE, not all real objects in the real environment may be associated with a corresponding virtual object. Similarly, in some embodiments of an MRE, not all virtual objects in the virtual environment may be associated with corresponding real objects, i.e., some virtual objects may exist solely within the virtual environment of the MRE without any real-world counterpart.

[0029] In some embodiments, virtual objects may have characteristics that differ, sometimes significantly, from those of their corresponding real objects. For example, a real environment in an MRE may include a green, two-pronged cactus, i.e., a thorny, inanimate object, while the corresponding virtual object in the MRE may have the characteristics of a green, two-armed virtual character with human facial features and a surly attitude. In this embodiment, the virtual object resembles its corresponding real object in some characteristics (color, number of arms) but differs from the real object in other characteristics (facial features, personality). In this manner, virtual objects have the potential to represent real objects in a creative, abstract, exaggerated, or fictional manner, or to impart behavior (e.g., human personality) to otherwise inanimate real objects. In some embodiments, a virtual object may be a purely fictional creation with no real-world counterpart (e.g., a virtual monster in a virtual environment, perhaps in a location that corresponds to a void in the real environment).

[0030] Compared to VR systems, which present a virtual environment to a user while obscuring the real environment, mixed reality systems that present an MRE offer the advantage that the real environment remains perceptible while the virtual environment is presented. Thus, a user of a mixed reality system can experience and interact with the corresponding virtual environment using visual and audio cues associated with the real environment. As an example, a user of a VR system may struggle to perceive or interact with virtual objects displayed in the virtual environment because, as noted above, the user cannot directly perceive or interact with the virtual environment. However, a user of an MR system may find it intuitive and natural to interact with virtual objects by seeing, hearing, and touching the corresponding real objects in their own real environment. This level of interaction may enhance the user's sense of immersion, connection, and engagement with the virtual environment. Similarly, by simultaneously presenting a real environment and a virtual environment, a mixed reality system may reduce negative psychological sensations (e.g., cognitive dissonance) and negative physical sensations (e.g., motion sickness) associated with VR systems. Mixed reality systems also offer many possibilities for applications that can augment or modify our experience of the real world.

[0031] 1A illustrates an exemplary real environment 100 in which a user 110 uses a mixed reality system 112. The mixed reality system 112 may include a display (e.g., a see-through display) and one or more speakers, as well as one or more sensors (e.g., cameras), for example, as described below. The illustrated real environment 100 includes a rectangular room 104A in which the user 110 is standing and real objects 122A (lamp), 124A (table), 126A (sofa), and 128A (painting). The room 104A further includes a location coordinate 106, which may be considered the origin of the real environment 100. As shown in FIG. 1A, an environment / world coordinate system 108 (comprising an x-axis 108X, a y-axis 108Y, and a z-axis 108Z), with its origin at point 106 (world coordinates), may define a coordinate space for the real environment 100. In some embodiments, origin 106 of environment / world coordinate system 108 may correspond to where mixed reality system 112 is powered on. In some embodiments, origin 106 of environment / world coordinate system 108 may be reset during operation. In some examples, user 110 may be considered a real object in real environment 100. Similarly, body parts (e.g., hands, feet) of user 110 may be considered real objects in real environment 100. In some examples, user / listener / head coordinate system 114 (comprising x-axis 114X, y-axis 114Y, and z-axis 114Z), with its origin at point 115 (e.g., user / listener / head coordinate), may define a coordinate space for user / listener / head on which mixed reality system 112 is located. Origin 115 of user / listener / head coordinate system 114 may be defined relative to one or more components of mixed reality system 112. For example, the origin 115 of the user / listener / head coordinate system 114 may be defined relative to the display of the mixed reality system 112, such as during an initial calibration of the mixed reality system 112. A matrix (which may include a translation matrix and a quaternion matrix or other rotation matrix) or other suitable representation can characterize the transformation between the user / listener / head coordinate system 114 space and the environment / world coordinate system 108 space.In some embodiments, left ear coordinates 116 and right ear coordinates 117 may be defined relative to the origin 115 of the user / listener / head coordinate system 114. A matrix (which may include a translation matrix and a quaternion matrix or other rotation matrix) or other suitable representation can characterize the transformation between the left ear coordinates 116 and right ear coordinates 117 and the user / listener / head coordinate system 114 space. The user / listener / head coordinate system 114 can simplify the representation of location relative to the user's head or head-mounted device, for example, relative to the environment / world coordinate system 108. Using simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), visual odometry, or other techniques, the transformation between the user coordinate system 114 and the environment coordinate system 108 can be determined and updated in real time.

[0032] 1B illustrates an exemplary virtual environment 130 that corresponds to real environment 100. The illustrated virtual environment 130 includes a virtual rectangular room 104B that corresponds to real rectangular room 104A, a virtual object 122B that corresponds to real object 122A, a virtual object 124B that corresponds to real object 124A, and a virtual object 126B that corresponds to real object 126A. Metadata associated with virtual objects 122B, 124B, and 126B may include information derived from the corresponding real objects 122A, 124A, and 126A. Virtual environment 130 additionally includes a virtual monster 132, which does not correspond to any real object in real environment 100. Real object 128A in real environment 100 does not correspond to any virtual object in virtual environment 130. A persistent coordinate system 133 (with x-axis 133X, y-axis 133Y, and z-axis 133Z), with its origin at point 134 (persistent coordinate), may define a coordinate space for the virtual content. Origin 134 of persistent coordinate system 133 may be defined relative to / with respect to one or more real objects, such as real object 126A. Matrices (which may include translation matrices and quaternion or other rotation matrices) or other suitable representations can characterize the transformation between persistent coordinate system 133 space and environment / world coordinate system 108 space. In some embodiments, virtual objects 122B, 124B, 126B, and 132 may each have its own persistent coordinate point relative to origin 134 of persistent coordinate system 133. In some embodiments, there may be multiple persistent coordinate systems, and virtual objects 122B, 124B, 126B, and 132 may each have its own persistent coordinate point relative to one or more persistent coordinate systems.

[0033] Persistent coordinate data may be coordinate data that persists relative to the physical environment. Persistent coordinate data may be used by an MR system (e.g., MR system 112, 200) to establish persistent virtual content, which may not be tied to movement of the display on which the virtual object is displayed. For example, a two-dimensional screen may display virtual objects only relative to their location on the screen. As the two-dimensional screen moves, the virtual content may move with the screen. In some embodiments, persistent virtual content may be displayed in a corner of a room. When an MR user looks at the corner, they see the virtual content, look away from the corner (the virtual content may no longer be visible), and when they look back, the virtual content may appear in the corner (similar to how a real object may behave).

[0034] In some embodiments, an instance of persistent coordinate data (e.g., a persistent coordinate system) may include an origin and three axes. For example, the persistent coordinate system may be assigned by the MR system to the center of a room. In some embodiments, a user may move around a room, exit and re-enter the room, etc., but the persistent coordinate system may remain at the center of the room (e.g., because it persists relative to the physical environment). In some embodiments, virtual objects may be displayed using transformations to the persistent coordinate data, which may enable displaying persistent virtual content. In some embodiments, the MR system may generate the persistent coordinate data using simultaneous localization and mapping (e.g., the MR system may assign a persistent coordinate system to a point in space). In some embodiments, the MR system may map the environment by generating persistent coordinate data at regular intervals (e.g., the MR system may assign persistent coordinate systems in a grid where a persistent coordinate system may be within at least 5 feet of another persistent coordinate system).

[0035] In some embodiments, the persistent coordinate data may be generated by the MR system and transmitted to a remote server. In some embodiments, the remote server may be configured to receive the persistent coordinate data. In some embodiments, the remote server may be configured to synchronize persistent coordinate data from multiple observation instances. For example, multiple MR systems may map persistent coordinate data to the same room and transmit that data to a remote server. In some embodiments, the remote server may use this observation data to generate reference persistent coordinate data, which may be based on one or more observations. In some embodiments, the reference persistent coordinate data may be more accurate and / or reliable than a single observation of the persistent coordinate data. In some embodiments, the reference persistent coordinate data may be transmitted to one or more MR systems. For example, an MR system may use image recognition and / or location data to recognize that it is located in a room with corresponding reference persistent coordinate data (e.g., because another MR system has previously mapped that room). In some embodiments, the MR system may receive reference persistent coordinate data corresponding to its location from the remote server.

[0036] 1A and 1B, environment / world coordinate system 108 defines a shared coordinate space for both real environment 100 and virtual environment 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the coordinate space has its origin at point 106. Furthermore, the coordinate space is defined by the same three orthogonal axes (108X, 108Y, 108Z). Thus, a first location in real environment 100 and a second corresponding location in virtual environment 130 can be described with respect to the same coordinate space. This simplifies identifying and displaying corresponding locations in the real and virtual environments because the same coordinates can be used to identify both locations. However, in some embodiments, the corresponding real and virtual environments need not use a shared coordinate space. For example, in some embodiments (not shown), a matrix (which may include a translation matrix and a quaternion matrix or other rotation matrix) or other suitable representation can characterize the transformation between the real environment coordinate space and the virtual environment coordinate space.

[0037] 1C illustrates an exemplary MRE 150 that simultaneously presents aspects of real environment 100 and virtual environment 130 to user 110 via mixed reality system 112. In the example shown, MRE 150 simultaneously presents to user 110 real objects 122A, 124A, 126A, and 128A from real environment 100 (e.g., through a transparent portion of the display of mixed reality system 112) and virtual objects 122B, 124B, 126B, and 132 from virtual environment 130 (e.g., through an active display portion of the display of mixed reality system 112). As described above, origin 106 serves as the origin for a coordinate space corresponding to MRE 150, and coordinate system 108 defines the x-, y-, and z-axes for the coordinate space.

[0038] In the illustrated example, the mixed reality objects include corresponding pairs of real and virtual objects (i.e., 122A / 122B, 124A / 124B, 126A / 126B) that occupy corresponding locations in coordinate space 108. In some examples, both real and virtual objects may be visible to user 110 simultaneously. This may be desirable in instances where, for example, a virtual object presents information designed to augment the view of the corresponding real object (such as in a museum application where a virtual object presents a missing portion of an ancient, damaged statue). In some examples, the virtual objects (122B, 124B, and / or 126B) may be displayed so as to occlude the corresponding real objects (122A, 124A, and / or 126A) (e.g., via active pixelated occlusion using a pixelated occlusion shutter). This may be desirable, for example, in instances where a virtual object acts as a visual replacement for a corresponding real object (such as in interactive storytelling applications where inanimate real objects become "living" characters).

[0039] In some examples, real objects (e.g., 122A, 124A, 126A) may be associated with virtual content or helper data that does not necessarily constitute a virtual object. The virtual content or helper data can facilitate processing or handling of the virtual object within a mixed reality environment. For example, such virtual content may include a two-dimensional representation of the corresponding real object, a custom asset type associated with the corresponding real object, or statistical data associated with the corresponding real object. This information can enable or facilitate calculations involving the real object without incurring unnecessary computational overhead.

[0040] In some embodiments, the presentation described above may also incorporate audio aspects. For example, in MRE 150, virtual monster 132 may be associated with one or more audio signals, such as footstep effects, that are generated as the monster walks around MRE 150. As described further below, a processor in mixed reality system 112 may calculate an audio signal corresponding to a mixed and processed combination of all such sounds within MRE 150 and present the audio signal to user 110 via one or more speakers included within mixed reality system 112 and / or one or more external speakers.

[0041] Exemplary Mixed Reality System

[0042] An exemplary mixed reality system 112 can include a wearable head device (e.g., a wearable augmented reality or mixed reality head device) comprising a display (which may be an eyepiece display, and may include left and right see-through displays and associated components for coupling light from the displays to the user's eyes), left and right speakers (e.g., positioned adjacent the user's left and right ears, respectively), an inertial measurement unit (IMU) (e.g., mounted on the temple arms of the head device), a quadrature coil electromagnetic receiver (e.g., mounted on the left temple component), left and right cameras (e.g., depth (time-of-flight) cameras) oriented away from the user, and left and right eye cameras oriented toward the user (e.g., to detect the user's eye movements). However, the mixed reality system 112 can incorporate any suitable display technology and any suitable sensors (e.g., optical, infrared, acoustic, LIDAR, EOG, GPS, magnetic). Additionally, mixed reality system 112 may incorporate networking features (e.g., Wi-Fi capabilities) to communicate with other devices and systems, including other mixed reality systems. Mixed reality system 112 may further include a battery (which may be mounted in an auxiliary unit, such as a belt pack designed to be worn around the user's waist), a processor, and memory. The wearable head device of mixed reality system 112 may include a tracking component, such as an IMU or other suitable sensor, configured to output a set of coordinates of the wearable head device relative to the user's environment. In some examples, the tracking component may provide input to a processor and implement simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) and / or visual odometry algorithms. In some examples, mixed reality system 112 may also include an auxiliary unit 320, which may be a handheld controller 300 and / or a wearable belt pack, as described further below.

[0043] 2A-2D illustrate components of an exemplary mixed reality system 200 (which may correspond to mixed reality system 112) that may be used to present an MRE (which may correspond to MRE 150) or other virtual environment to a user. FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of a wearable head device 2102 included within the exemplary mixed reality system 200. FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of the wearable head device 2102 worn on a user's head 2202. FIG. 2C illustrates a front view of the wearable head device 2102. FIG. 2D illustrates an edge view of an exemplary eyepiece 2110 of the wearable head device 2102. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the exemplary wearable head device 2102 includes an exemplary left eyepiece (e.g., a left transparent waveguide set eyepiece) 2108 and an exemplary right eyepiece (e.g., a right transparent waveguide set eyepiece) 2110. Each eyepiece 2108 and 2110 can include a transmissive element through which the real environment is visible and a display element for presenting a display (e.g., via image-modulated light) that is overlaid on the real environment. In some embodiments, such display elements can include surface diffractive optical elements for controlling the flow of the image-modulated light. For example, the left eyepiece 2108 can include a left internal coupling grating set 2112, a left orthogonal pupil-extension (OPE) grating set 2120, and a left exit (output) pupil-extension (EPE) grating set 2122. Similarly, the right eyepiece 2110 can include a right internal coupling grating set 2118, a right OPE grating set 2114, and a right EPE grating set 2116. The image-modulated light can be transferred to the user's eye via the internal coupling gratings 2112 and 2118, the OPEs 2114 and 2120, and the EPEs 2116 and 2122. Each internal coupling grating set 2112, 2118 can be configured to deflect light toward its corresponding OPE grating set 2120, 2114. Each OPE grating set 2120, 2114 can be designed to progressively deflect light downward toward its associated EPE 2122, 2116, thereby extending the exit pupil formed horizontally.Each EPE 2122, 2116 can be configured to progressively redirect at least a portion of the light received from its corresponding OPE grating set 2120, 2114 outward toward a user eyebox location (not shown), defined behind the eyepieces 2108, 2110, such that the exit pupil formed in the eyebox extends vertically. Alternatively, instead of the internal coupling grating sets 2112 and 2118, the OPE grating sets 2114 and 2120, and the EPE grating sets 2116 and 2122, the eyepieces 2108 and 2110 can include gratings and / or other arrangements of refractive and reflective features to control the coupling of image-modulated light into the user's eye.

[0044] In some examples, the wearable head device 2102 can include a left temple arm 2130 and a right temple arm 2132, where the left temple arm 2130 includes a left speaker 2134 and the right temple arm 2132 includes a right speaker 2136. A quadrature coil electromagnetic receiver 2138 can be located in the left temple assembly or another suitable location within the wearable head unit 2102. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) 2140 can be located in the right temple arm 2132 or another suitable location within the wearable head device 2102. The wearable head device 2102 can also include a left depth (e.g., time-of-flight) camera 2142 and a right depth camera 2144. The depth cameras 2142, 2144 can preferably be oriented in different directions so that both cover a wider field of view.

[0045] 2A-2D , a left source 2124 of image-wise modulated light can be optically coupled into the left eyepiece 2108 through a left internal coupling grating set 2112, and a right source 2126 of image-wise modulated light can be optically coupled into the right eyepiece 2110 through a right internal coupling grating set 2118. The sources 2124, 2126 of image-wise modulated light can include, for example, a fiber optic scanner, a projector including an electronic light modulator such as a digital light processing (DLP) chip or a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) modulator, or an emissive display such as a micro light emitting diode (μLED) or micro organic light emitting diode (μOLED) panel coupled into the internal coupling grating sets 2112, 2118 using one or more lenses per side. The input coupling grating sets 2112, 2118 can deflect light from image-wise modulated light sources 2124, 2126 to angles above the critical angle for total internal reflection (TIR) ​​for the eyepieces 2108, 2110. The OPE grating sets 2114, 2120 progressively deflect the propagating light downward by TIR towards the EPE grating sets 2116, 2122. The EPE grating sets 2116, 2122 progressively couple the light towards the user's face, including the pupils of the user's eyes.

[0046] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2D , the left eyepiece 2108 and the right eyepiece 2110 each include multiple waveguides 2402. For example, each eyepiece 2108, 2110 can include multiple individual waveguides, each dedicated to a separate color channel (e.g., red, blue, and green). In some embodiments, each eyepiece 2108, 2110 can include multiple sets of such waveguides, each configured to impart a different wavefront curvature to the emitted light. The wavefront curvature may be convex with respect to the user's eye, for example, to present a virtual object positioned at a distance in front of the user (e.g., a distance corresponding to the inverse of the wavefront curvature). In some embodiments, the EPE grating sets 2116, 2122 can include curved grating grooves to impart a convex wavefront curvature by modifying the Poynting vector of light exiting across each EPE.

[0047] In some examples, stereoscopically adjusted left and right eye images can be presented to the user through light modulators 2124, 2126 and eyepieces 2108, 2110 for each image to create the perception that the displayed content is three-dimensional. The perceived realism of the presentation of three-dimensional virtual objects can be enhanced by selecting the waveguides (and thus the corresponding wavefront curvatures) so that the virtual objects are displayed at distances that approximate the distances indicated by the stereoscopic left and right images. This technique can also reduce motion sickness experienced by some users, which can be caused by differences between the depth perception cues provided by the stereoscopic left and right eye images and the automatic accommodation (e.g., object distance-dependent focus) of the human eye.

[0048] FIG. 2D illustrates an edge view from above of the right eyepiece 2110 of the exemplary wearable head device 2102. As shown in FIG. 2D , the plurality of waveguides 2402 can include a first subset 2404 of three waveguides and a second subset 2406 of three waveguides. The two subsets 2404, 2406 of waveguides can be distinguished by different EPE gratings featuring different grating line curvatures to impart different wavefront curvatures to the exiting light. Within each of the subsets 2404, 2406 of waveguides, each waveguide can be used to couple a different spectral channel (e.g., one of the red, green, and blue spectral channels) to the user's right eye 2206. (Although not shown in FIG. 2D , the structure of the left eyepiece 2108 is similar to that of the right eyepiece 2110.)

[0049] 3A illustrates example handheld controller components 300 of mixed reality system 200. In some examples, handheld controller 300 includes a grip portion 346 and one or more buttons 350 disposed along a top surface 348. In some examples, button 350 may be configured for use as an optical tracking target to track six degrees of freedom (6DOF) movement of handheld controller 300, for example, in conjunction with a camera or other optical sensor (which may be mounted in a head unit (e.g., wearable head device 2102) of mixed reality system 200). In some examples, handheld controller 300 includes a tracking component (e.g., an IMU or other suitable sensor) for detecting a position or orientation, such as a position or orientation relative to wearable head device 2102. In some examples, such a tracking component may be positioned in a handle of handheld controller 300 and / or may be mechanically coupled to the handheld controller. The handheld controller 300 can be configured to provide one or more output signals corresponding to one or more of a button press state, or the position, orientation, and / or movement (e.g., via an IMU) of the handheld controller 300. Such output signals may be used as inputs to a processor of the mixed reality system 200. Such inputs may correspond to the position, orientation, and / or movement of the handheld controller (or, for that matter, the position, orientation, and / or movement of a user's hand holding the controller). Such inputs may also correspond to a user pressing a button 350.

[0050] 3B illustrates an example auxiliary unit 320 of the mixed reality system 200. The auxiliary unit 320 can include a battery for providing energy to operate the system 200 and can include a processor for executing programs to operate the system 200. As shown, the example auxiliary unit 320 includes a clip 2128 for attaching the auxiliary unit 320 to a user's belt, etc. It will also be apparent that other form factors are suitable for the auxiliary unit 320, including form factors that do not involve mounting the unit on a user's belt. In some embodiments, the auxiliary unit 320 is coupled to the wearable head device 2102 through a multi-tube cable, which may include, for example, electrical wires and optical fibers. A wireless connection between the auxiliary unit 320 and the wearable head device 2102 can also be used.

[0051] In some examples, mixed reality system 200 can include one or more microphones to detect sound and provide a corresponding signal to the mixed reality system. In some examples, the microphones may be attached to or integrated with wearable head device 2102 and configured to detect the user's voice. In some examples, microphones may be attached to or integrated with handheld controller 300 and / or auxiliary unit 320. Such microphones may be configured to detect environmental sounds, ambient noise, the user's or a third party's voice, or other sounds.

[0052] 4 shows an example functional block diagram that may correspond to an example mixed reality system, such as mixed reality system 200 described above (which may correspond to mixed reality system 112 with respect to FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 4, example handheld controller 400B (which may correspond to handheld controller 300 (“totem”)) includes a totem / wearable head device six degrees of freedom (6DOF) totem subsystem 404A, and example wearable head device 400A (which may correspond to wearable head device 2102) includes a totem / wearable head device 6DOF subsystem 404B. In an example, 6DOF totem subsystem 404A and 6DOF subsystem 404B cooperate to determine six coordinates of handheld controller 400B relative to wearable head device 400A (e.g., offsets in three translational directions and rotations along three axes). The six degrees of freedom may be expressed relative to the coordinate system of wearable head device 400A. The three translational offsets may be represented as X, Y, and Z offsets within such a coordinate system, a translation matrix, or some other representation. The rotational degrees of freedom may be represented as a sequence of yaw, pitch, and roll rotations, as a rotation matrix, as a quaternion, or some other representation. In some examples, the wearable head device 400A, one or more depth cameras 444 (and / or one or more non-depth cameras) included within the wearable head device 400A, and / or one or more optical targets (e.g., buttons 350 of handheld controller 400B as described above or dedicated optical targets included within handheld controller 400B) can be used for 6DOF tracking. In some examples, the handheld controller 400B can include a camera as described above, and the wearable head device 400A can include an optical target for optical tracking in conjunction with the camera. In some embodiments, the wearable head device 400A and the handheld controller 400B each include a set of three orthogonally oriented solenoids, which are used to wirelessly transmit and receive three distinguishable signals.By measuring the relative magnitudes of the three distinguishable signals received in each of the coils used to receive, the 6DOF of the wearable head device 400A relative to the handheld controller 400B can be determined. Additionally, the 6DOF totem subsystem 404A can include an inertial measurement unit (IMU), which is useful for providing improved accuracy and / or more timely information regarding high speed movements of the handheld controller 400B.

[0053] In some examples, it may be necessary to transform coordinates from a local coordinate space (e.g., a coordinate space that is fixed relative to the wearable head device 400A) to an inertial coordinate space (e.g., a coordinate space that is fixed relative to the real environment), e.g., to compensate for movement of the wearable head device 400A relative to coordinate system 108. For example, such a transformation may be necessary so that the display of the wearable head device 400A presents virtual objects in an expected position and orientation relative to the real environment (e.g., a virtual person sitting in a real chair facing forward, regardless of the position and orientation of the wearable head device), rather than in a fixed position and orientation on the display (e.g., the same position in the bottom right corner of the display), preserving the illusion that the virtual objects exist in the real environment (and do not appear unnaturally positioned in the real environment, e.g., as the wearable head device 400A shifts and rotates). In some examples, a compensatory transformation between coordinate spaces can be determined by processing images from depth camera 444 using SLAM and / or visual odometry procedures to determine the transformation of wearable head device 400A relative to coordinate system 108. In the example shown in FIG. 4 , depth camera 444 is coupled to SLAM / visual odometry block 406 and can provide images to block 406. The SLAM / visual odometry block 406 implementation can include a processor configured to process the images and then determine the position and orientation of the user's head, which can be used to identify a transformation between the head coordinate space and another coordinate space (e.g., an inertial coordinate space). Similarly, in some examples, an additional source of information regarding the user's head pose and location is obtained from IMU 409. Information from IMU 409 can be integrated with information from SLAM / visual odometry block 406 to provide improved accuracy and / or more timely information for rapid adjustments of the user's head pose and position.

[0054] In some examples, depth camera 444 can provide 3D images to hand gesture tracker 411, which can be implemented within a processor of wearable head device 400A. Hand gesture tracker 411 can identify the user's hand gestures, for example, by matching the 3D images received from depth camera 444 to stored patterns representing hand gestures. Other suitable techniques for identifying the user's hand gestures will also be apparent.

[0055] In some embodiments, one or more processors 416 may be configured to receive data from the wearable head device's 6DOF headgear subsystem 404B, IMU 409, SLAM / visual odometry block 406, depth camera 444, and / or hand gesture tracker 411. The processor 416 may also send and receive control signals to and from the 6DOF totem system 404A. The processor 416 may be wirelessly coupled to the 6DOF totem system 404A, such as in embodiments in which the handheld controller 400B is untethered. The processor 416 may further communicate with additional components, such as an audio / visual content memory 418, a graphical processing unit (GPU) 420, and / or a digital signal processor (DSP) audio spatializer 422. The DSP audio spatializer 422 may be coupled to a head-related transfer function (HRTF) memory 425. The GPU 420 may include a left channel output coupled to a left source of imagewise modulated light 424 and a right channel output coupled to a right source of imagewise modulated light 426. The GPU 420 may output stereoscopic image data to the imagewise modulated light sources 424, 426, for example, as described above with respect to FIGS. 2A-2D . The DSP audio spatializer 422 may output audio to the left speaker 412 and / or the right speaker 414. The DSP audio spatializer 422 may receive an input from the processor 419 indicating a direction vector from the user to a virtual sound source (which may be moved by the user, e.g., via the handheld controller 320). Based on the direction vector, the DSP audio spatializer 422 may determine a corresponding HRTF (e.g., by accessing an HRTF or by interpolating multiple HRTFs). The DSP audio spatializer 422 may then apply the determined HRTF to an audio signal, such as an audio signal corresponding to a virtual sound generated by a virtual object.This can improve the believability and realism of virtual sounds by incorporating the user's relative position and orientation to the virtual sounds in the mixed reality environment, i.e., by presenting virtual sounds that match the user's expectations of what they would hear if the virtual sounds were real sounds in a real environment.

[0056] 4 , one or more of the processor 416, GPU 420, DSP audio spatializer 422, HRTF memory 425, and audio / visual content memory 418 may be included in auxiliary unit 400C (which may correspond to auxiliary unit 320 described above). Auxiliary unit 400C may include battery 427 to power its components and / or provide power to wearable head device 400A or handheld controller 400B. Including such components in an auxiliary unit, which may be mounted on the user's waist, can limit the size and weight of wearable head device 400A, which in turn can reduce fatigue in the user's head and neck.

[0057] While Figure 4 presents elements corresponding to various components of an exemplary mixed reality system, various other suitable arrangements of these components will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, elements shown in Figure 4 as associated with auxiliary unit 400C may instead be associated with wearable head device 400A or handheld controller 400B. Furthermore, some mixed reality systems may dispense with handheld controller 400B or auxiliary unit 400C entirely. Such variations and modifications should be understood as being within the scope of the disclosed embodiments.

[0058] Dynamic collocation of virtual content

[0059] As MR systems develop and achieve greater market penetration, demands on MR system capabilities may also increase. While a single user of an MR system may expect the MR system to display persistent virtual content (e.g., virtual content that may persist at a location relative to the environment, rather than virtual content that may persist only at a location relative to the display), multiple users of an MR system who interact with each other may have more demanding expectations. For example, multiple users of an MR system residing in the same real-world space may expect to experience the same mixed reality environment. Because users may reside in the same real-world environment, they may also expect to reside in the same virtual environment (both of which may be combined to form a mixed reality environment). Specifically, a first user may view a virtual object in the first user's mixed reality environment, and the first user may expect a second user in the same real environment to also be able to see the virtual object in the same location. Thus, it may be desirable to collocate virtual content across multiple MR systems.

[0060] Virtual object collocation may include placing a virtual object within a mixed reality environment to appear in a consistent position relative to the mixed reality environment across one or more MR and / or XR (e.g., a smartphone that can display shared virtual content on its screen in the correct real-world location) systems. For example, a virtual coffee mug may be displayed as if it were placed on a real table. Virtual object persistence may enable a single MR system to persistently display the virtual coffee mug as if it were resting in the same spot on the real table as it moves around the mixed reality environment. Virtual object collocation may enable two or more MR systems to persistently display the virtual coffee mug as if it were resting in the same spot on the real table as it moves around the mixed reality environment. In other words, the goal of virtual object collocation may be to treat a virtual object like a real object (e.g., an object that can be observed by multiple people simultaneously in a consistent manner across each person and their position relative to the object).

[0061] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of virtual object collocation, according to some embodiments. User 502 and user 508 may reside in the same real-world environment (e.g., user 502 and user 508 may be in close proximity to each other and / or in the same room as each other). In some embodiments, user 502 and / or user 508 may desire to share virtual content with other users. In some embodiments, virtual objects (e.g., prism 510 and / or geometric object 512) may be collocated for user 502 and user 508. In some embodiments, prism 510 may include a bounding volume, which may comprise an enclosed volume around one or more geometric objects. For example, the bounding volume may be a rectangular box sized to the maximum length, width, and / or height of the bounded geometric object or group of bounded geometric objects. In some embodiments, the bounding volume may be any geometric shape, including a cylinder, a sphere, etc. In some embodiments, the prism may include a container for the bounding volume, and the prism may include the properties of a bounding volume. For example, a prism may include parameters regarding whether a bounding volume should intersect with other bounding volumes, whether the bounding volume should be oriented horizontally or vertically, whether and / or how the bounding volume should be connected to other virtual objects, etc. In some embodiments, the geometric object can be a mesh of interconnected vertices that can form a three-dimensional object.

[0062] In some embodiments, a virtual object may appear to both user 502 and user 508 in the same location relative to the real-world environment and / or mixed reality environment. For example, user 502 may perceive prism 510 as resting on a table, and user 508 may also perceive prism 510 as resting on the table in the same location. As user 502 and / or user 508 move around prism 510, prism 510 may appear to user 502 and / or user 508 to remain stationary (e.g., prism 510 may appear to remain on the same table in the same location). In some embodiments, virtual object juxtaposition can also apply to moving objects. For example, user 502 may move prism 510 from a table to a cabinet. User 502 may accomplish this using, for example, a user interface of MR system 504 (which may correspond to MR systems 112, 200). The user interface of the MR system 504 may include a handheld controller that allows the user to point at the prism 510 and press buttons on the handheld controller to select the prism 510 and move it to different locations. In some embodiments, virtual object juxtaposition may enable the user 508 to perceive the movement of the prism 510 as the user 502 moves the prism 510 within the user's 502's MRE.

[0063] 6 illustrates an example of virtual object co-location, according to some embodiments. Virtual object co-location can include communication between one or more MR systems. In some embodiments, MR system 602 (which may correspond to MR system 112, 200) and MR system 604 (which may correspond to MR system 112, 200) may communicate to synchronize the display of co-located virtual objects. In some embodiments, MR system 602 and MR system 604 may be independent (e.g., each system may track the user's location and display virtual content within its own MRE), and it may be beneficial to allow MR system 602 and MR system 604 to communicate and synchronize to co-locate virtual content.

[0064] In some embodiments, the MR system may utilize one or more persistent coordinate systems (e.g., persistent coordinate system 133) to display persistent virtual content (e.g., virtual content that may remain stationary relative to the MRE as opposed to stationary relative to the display). In some embodiments, the MR system may utilize visual data (e.g., camera data), inertial data (e.g., IMU data), depth data (e.g., time-of-flight data and / or LIDAR data), and / or other data to establish one or more anchor points (e.g., origins of the persistent coordinate systems) in three-dimensional space. For example, the MR system may utilize visual inertial odometry and / or simultaneous localization and mapping to create and / or establish persistent coordinate systems as the MR system moves around the real environment. In some embodiments, previously established persistent coordinate systems may be saved (e.g., locally on the MR system and / or uploaded to a remote server).

[0065] In some embodiments, the MR system may determine that it is in an environment that has been previously mapped with a persistent coordinate system (e.g., via location data, via image recognition, and / or via simultaneous localization and mapping). The MR system may retrieve the previously mapped persistent coordinate system for use in displaying the persistent virtual content. In some embodiments, one or more locally created persistent coordinate systems may be uploaded to a remote server. In some embodiments, the remote server may determine whether one or more locally created persistent coordinate systems correspond to one or more previously uploaded persistent coordinate systems. In some embodiments, the remote server may determine a reference persistent coordinate system from one or more corresponding persistent coordinate systems. For example, the remote server may receive two corresponding persistent coordinate systems from two different MR systems, and the remote server may average the corresponding persistent coordinate systems. In some embodiments, the average may be a weighted average according to one or more confidence measures (e.g., one MR system may have persistent coordinate systems that are repeatedly observed, which may increase the confidence in the persistent coordinate systems deployed by that MR system). In some embodiments, if the MR system determines that it is located within a previously mapped environment, it may retrieve all corresponding persistent coordinate systems (e.g., locally and / or from a remote server). For example, if the MR system determines that it is located within a room that has previously created persistent coordinate systems, the MR system may retrieve all previously created persistent coordinate systems for that room.

[0066] In some embodiments, persistent virtual content can be placed within the MRE using one or more persistent coordinate systems. For example, the virtual content can be displayed relative to the persistent coordinate system. In some embodiments, one or more transformations between coordinate systems may be used to display the persistent virtual content. For example, one or more transformations may be used to convert from the persistent coordinate system to the head coordinate system. In some embodiments, one or more transformations may be used to translate from the head coordinate system to the left eye coordinate system (which may correspond to the left display of a stereoscopic MR system). In some embodiments, one or more transformations may be used to translate from the head coordinate system to the right eye coordinate system (which may correspond to the right display of a stereoscopic MR system). In some embodiments, the virtual content can be displayed relative to one or more persistent coordinate systems. For example, the virtual content may move within the MRE, and the virtual content may be displayed relative to the persistent coordinate system that is closest to the virtual content at a given time.

[0067] 6, MR systems 602 and 604 may be located within an MRE that includes persistent coordinate system 610 and persistent coordinate system 612. In some embodiments, MR system 602 may recognize that it is located within a previously mapped environment and retrieve persistent coordinate system 610 and persistent coordinate system 612. In some embodiments, MR system 602 may display prism 606 using coordinate system 608. In some embodiments, coordinate system 608 may include and / or be defined by a transformation from persistent coordinate system 610 that may relate the position of prism 606 to persistent coordinate system 610.

[0068] In some embodiments, MR system 604 may join MR system 602 to a co-located session, which may enable MR systems 602 and 604 to co-locate virtual objects (e.g., prism 606 and / or virtual content contained within the prism) in real time. In some embodiments, MR system 602 may send a request to MR system 604 to join the co-located session. In some embodiments, MR system 604 may send a request to MR system 602 to join the co-located session. In some embodiments, MR system 602 and MR system 604 may each launch separate instances of an application that may govern prism 606. In some embodiments, MR system 602 may transmit data regarding one or more virtual objects to be co-located to MR system 604. For example, MR system 602 may transmit virtual object identifiers, which may enable MR system 604 to locate and display the appropriate virtual objects (e.g., from within an application, which may be a different instance of the same application running on MR system 602).

[0069] Displaying co-located virtual objects may be more accurate if the co-located virtual objects are displayed relative to a single persistent coordinate system across MR systems in a co-located session. For example, utilizing a common persistent coordinate system may reduce inaccuracies in object position and / or orientation that may result from errors in different persistent coordinate systems. In some embodiments, MR system 602 and MR system 604 may recognize (individually and / or through communication between each other) that they reside in a space that has previously been mapped with a persistent coordinate system. MR systems 602 and 604 may retrieve a persistent coordinate system corresponding to the recognized real-world environment. In some embodiments, each MR system may transmit a persistent coordinate system (e.g., a persistent coordinate system corresponding to a nearby persistent coordinate system and / or an occupied environment) to other MR systems in the co-located session. In some embodiments, each MR system may transmit one or more transformations from one or more persistent coordinate systems to the location of the co-located virtual objects.

[0070] In some embodiments, an MR system (e.g., MR system 602) may receive a list of persistent coordinate systems and / or unique identifiers of persistent coordinate systems used by other MR systems (e.g., MR system 604) in the co-located session. In some embodiments, the MR system (e.g., MR system 602 and / or MR system 604) may compare the persistent coordinate systems in use by the other MR systems in the co-located session with the persistent coordinate systems in use by the MR system itself. In some embodiments, the MR system may determine that the persistent coordinate system 610 is in use by and / or common to all MR systems in the co-located session. In some embodiments, the MR system may receive one or more transformations from one or more persistent coordinate systems to the locations of the co-located virtual objects. In some embodiments, the MR system may display the co-located virtual content (e.g., prism 606 and / or virtual content associated with prism 606) using the persistent coordinate system 610 (e.g., by using a transformation relative to the persistent coordinate system 610). In some embodiments, the persistent coordinate system used for side-by-side comparison may be a reference persistent coordinate system (e.g., a persistent coordinate system retrieved from a remote server that may have multiple views of the persistent coordinate system integrated).

[0071] In some embodiments, more than one persistent coordinate system may be common to all MR systems in a co-located session. In some embodiments, each MR system may display the co-located virtual content using the common persistent coordinate system that is closest to the location of the co-located virtual content. In some embodiments, an MR system may negotiate with other MR systems in the co-located session to display the co-located virtual content relative to a single common persistent coordinate system.

[0072] In some embodiments, the co-located virtual content may move during the co-located session. For example, MR system 602 may move prism 606 during the co-located session. In some embodiments, the MR system initiating the movement (e.g., MR system 602) may continuously transmit transformation data (e.g., transformation matrices) to the other MR systems in the co-located session (e.g., at a rate of 15 Hz, 30 Hz, 60 Hz, etc.). In some embodiments, the receiving MR system (e.g., MR system 604) may already be displaying the co-located virtual content using the same persistent coordinate system as the initiating MR system. In some embodiments, the receiving MR system may use the transformation data to display the movement of the co-located virtual content. In some embodiments, the receiving MR system may display the co-located virtual content using a different persistent coordinate system than the initiating MR system (e.g., a different common persistent coordinate system). In some embodiments, the receiving MR system may switch to display the co-located virtual content using the common persistent coordinate system in use by the initiating MR system, which may allow the receiving MR system to directly use the transformation data transmitted by the initiating MR system. In some embodiments, the receiving MR system may not switch from its persistent coordinate system and may utilize a transformation from the persistent coordinate system used by the initiating MR system to the persistent coordinate system used by the receiving MR system.

[0073] In some embodiments, more than one MR system can simultaneously move co-located virtual content. For example, the MR system 602 may move the prism 606. While the MR system 602 is moving the prism 606, the MR system 604 may also move the prism 606. In some embodiments, the MR system 604 may display the prism 606 as it moves when the MR system 602 moves it. In some embodiments, once the MR system 604 starts moving the prism 606, it may display its own movement (e.g., overriding the movement made by the MR system 602). In some embodiments, the MR system 602 will continue to locally display its own movement, while the MR system 604 locally displays its movement. In some embodiments, once the MR system 602 releases the prism 606, the MR system 602 will display the prism 606 according to the movement made by the MR system 604.

[0074] 7 illustrates an example of virtual object collocation across multiple environments, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, MR systems 702 and 704 may occupy a first environment (e.g., a first room), and MR systems 705 and 706 may occupy a second environment (e.g., a second room). In some embodiments, MR systems 702, 704, 705, and 706 may be in the same collocated session and may share persistent coordinate systems (e.g., active and / or nearby) and / or transformation data. Because MR systems 702 and 704 may occupy different environments than MR systems 705 and 706, MR systems 702 and 704 may not utilize a common persistent coordinate system with MR systems 705 and 706. In some embodiments, MR systems 702 and 704 determine that they share at least one common persistent coordinate system (e.g., persistent coordinate system 710 and / or 712) and can collocate virtual content with each other (e.g., using persistent coordinate system 710 and / or 712). In some embodiments, MR systems 705 and 706 determine that they share at least one persistent coordinate system (e.g., persistent coordinate system 714 and / or 716) and can collocate virtual content with each other (e.g., using persistent coordinate system 714 and / or 716).

[0075] In some embodiments, collocated virtual content within a collocated session can continue to share relative motion even across different persistent coordinate systems. For example, prism 708 may be displayed relative to persistent coordinate system 710 for MR systems 702 and 704, while being displayed relative to persistent coordinate system 714 for MR systems 705 and 706. Prism 708 may be displayed as moving for all MR systems within the collocated session (e.g., MR systems 702, 704, 705, and 706), even though different MR systems may anchor prism 708 to different persistent coordinate systems.

[0076] In some embodiments, the co-located virtual content may not move for a remote user when the co-located virtual content is moved locally. For example, MR systems 702 and 704 may be local to each other (e.g., because they share one or more persistent coordinate systems). In some embodiments, MR systems 705 and / or 706 may be considered remote to MR systems 702 and / or 704 (e.g., because MR systems 705 and / or 706 may not share persistent coordinate systems with MR systems 702 and / or 704). In some embodiments, MR systems 705 and / or 706 may therefore not appear to move prism 708 when MR system 702 moves prism 708.

[0077] In some embodiments, an MR system joining an existing co-located session may be co-located with another MR system already in the session. For example, MR systems 702, 704, and 705 may already be in a co-located session. In some embodiments, MR system 706 may join the co-located session (e.g., because MR system 706 enters the same room as MR system 705). In some embodiments, MR system 706 may display prism 708 in the same location as MR system 705 (e.g., using persistence coordinate system 714 used by MR system 705). When a new member joins the session, it may be desirable to maintain position persistence for existing session members (e.g., so existing session members are not disturbed by shifting virtual content to match the newly joined member).

[0078] In some embodiments, virtual content may be collocated to display the virtual content according to a first MR system. For example, MR systems 702 and 704 may not be in a collocated session and may each separately display prism 708. In some embodiments, when MR systems 702 and 704 initiate a collocated session, prism 708 may be displayed where MR system 702 is displaying the prism (e.g., because MR system 702 initiated display of prism 708 before MR system 704). In some embodiments, virtual content may be collocated according to the MR system that initiated the collocated session.

[0079] In some embodiments, MR systems initiating and / or participating in a co-located session may communicate with each other via one or more Internet connections. For example, MR systems in a co-located session may communicate with a remote server, which may route connections to other MR systems in the co-located session. In some embodiments, MR systems may communicate with each other using peer-to-peer connections. In some embodiments, MR systems may communicate with each other using an ad-hoc network. For example, MR systems in a co-located session may communicate with each other directly using WiFi, Bluetooth, infrared, etc.

[0080] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary network architecture for virtual object collocation, according to some embodiments. An MR system 802 may launch and / or host an application 804. In some embodiments, the application 804 may include a collocation library 806. In some embodiments, the collocation library 806 can be configured to receive persistent coordinate data (e.g., a unique identifier for a particular persistent coordinate system) from a remote server and / or from an MR system in a collocated session. In some embodiments, the collocation library 806 can be configured to broadcast persistent coordinate data (e.g., the persistent coordinate system in use by the host MR system 802) to other MR systems in the collocated session. In some embodiments, the collocation library 806 can compare the persistent coordinate data received from other MR systems in the collocated session with the persistent coordinate data in use by the host MR system to determine whether a common persistent coordinate system exists. In some embodiments, the collocation library 806 can be a client of a passable world service 818, which may launch in a remote server. In some embodiments, the passable world service 818 may store the nominal persistent coordinate system and / or receive the observed persistent coordinate system and integrate the observation with the corresponding nominal persistent coordinate system. In some embodiments, the collocation library 806 may receive the nominal persistent coordinate system in use by the host MR system 802 from the passable world service 818. In some embodiments, the passable world service 818 may run locally as a background service on the host MR system.

[0081] The collocation library 806 can be configured to execute processes, which may be launched within a runtime environment. In some embodiments, the collocation library 806 can be configured to execute sub-processes of a parent process. In some embodiments, the collocation library 806 can be configured to execute threads of a parent process. In some embodiments, the collocation library 806 can be configured to run services (e.g., as a background operating system service). In some embodiments, the processes, sub-processes, threads, and / or services executed by the collocation library 806 can be configured to run persistently (e.g., in the background) while the host system's operating system is running. In some embodiments, the services executed by the collocation library 806 can be instantiations of a parent background service, which may act as a host process for one or more background processes and / or sub-processes. In some embodiments, the collocation library 806 may be distributed among and / or run on multiple systems. In some embodiments, each component of the collocation library 806 may run in parallel, serially, or in any combination of two or more systems of multiple systems.

[0082] In some embodiments, the collocation library 806 can receive persistent coordinate data from other MR systems via the application connectivity platform 808 (e.g., the collocation library 806 can be a client of the application connectivity platform 808). In some embodiments, the application connectivity platform 808 can provide a low-latency communication path between MR systems in a collocated session, enabling real-time virtual object collocation. In some embodiments, the application connectivity platform 808 can include one or more implementations of Web Real-Time Communications (“WebRTC”). For example, data may be transmitted via one or more Twilio tracks for low-latency communication.

[0083] The application connectivity platform 808 can be configured to execute processes, which may launch within a runtime environment. In some embodiments, the application connectivity platform 808 can be configured to execute sub-processes of a parent process. In some embodiments, the application connectivity platform 808 can be configured to execute threads of a parent process. In some embodiments, the application connectivity platform 808 can be configured to run services (e.g., as a background operating system service). In some embodiments, processes, sub-processes, threads, and / or services executed by the application connectivity platform 808 can be configured to run persistently (e.g., in the background) while the host system's operating system is running. In some embodiments, a service executed by the application connectivity platform 808 can be an instantiation of a parent background service, which can act as a host process for one or more background processes and / or sub-processes. In some embodiments, the application connectivity platform 808 may be distributed among and / or run on multiple systems. In some embodiments, each component of the application connectivity platform 808 may run in parallel, serially, or in any combination of two or more systems in multiple systems.

[0084] In some embodiments, host MR system 810 may exist in a co-located session with host MR system 802. In some embodiments, host MR system 802 may launch application 812, which may be a separate but the same instantiation of application 804. In some embodiments, application 812 may include a collocation library 814, which may be configured to receive persistent coordinate data from a remote server and / or from other MR systems in the collocated session. In some embodiments, collocation library 814 can be configured to broadcast persistent coordinate data (e.g., a persistent coordinate system in use by host MR system 810) to other MR systems in the collocated session. In some embodiments, collocation library 814 may utilize application connectivity platform 816 to send and / or receive low-latency collocated data (e.g., relational transformation data as a collocated virtual object moves) to and / or from MR systems in the collocated session. In some embodiments, application connectivity platform 816 can be configured to communicate with other application connectivity platforms running on other MR systems (eg, application connectivity platform 808).

[0085] 9 illustrates an example process for co-locating virtual content. In step 902, an MR system may join a co-location session. In some embodiments, the MR system may be invited to join an existing co-location session. In some embodiments, the MR system may initiate a co-location session.

[0086] In step 904, the MR system may transmit persistent coordinate data and receive persistent coordinate data. In some embodiments, the MR system may transmit persistent coordinate data (and / or relationship data) to other MR systems in the co-located session. In some embodiments, the MR system may transmit persistent coordinate data (and / or relationship data) to one or more remote servers, which may transmit the data to other MR systems in the co-located session. In some embodiments, the MR system may receive persistent coordinate data (and / or relationship data) from one or more MR systems in the co-located session. In some embodiments, the MR system may receive persistent coordinate data (and / or relationship data) corresponding to one or more MR systems from one or more remote servers.

[0087] In step 906, the MR systems may determine whether at least one shared instance of persistent coordinate data exists. For example, a first MR system may compare persistent coordinate data received from other MR systems against persistent coordinate data corresponding to the first MR system (as transmitted in step 904). In some embodiments, each instance of persistent coordinate data may include a unique identifier, and the unique identifiers may be compared. In some embodiments, any MR system that recognizes the location as a previously mapped room may receive persistent coordinate data corresponding to that room. In some embodiments, any MR systems in the same room may share at least one instance of persistent coordinate data.

[0088] If no shared instance of persistent coordinate data exists between the received persistent coordinate data and the transmitted persistent coordinate data (e.g., because the MR system is not in the same room as the other MR systems), a non-collocated virtual object may be displayed in step 907. In some embodiments, a non-collocated virtual object may be an object whose movement cannot be reflected for the other MR systems in the collocated session.

[0089] If at least one shared instance of persistent coordinate data is identified, then in step 908 it can be determined whether more than one shared instance of persistent coordinate data can be identified. For example, a first MR system may be located in the same room as a second MR system, and the room may include two or more instances of persistent coordinate data. In some embodiments, the first and second MR systems may therefore have two or more instances of shared persistent coordinate data.

[0090] If it is determined that only one shared instance of persistent coordinate data exists, then in step 909, the collocated virtual object may be displayed using the shared instance of persistent coordinate data. For example, both the first and second collocated MR systems may display the collocated virtual object relative to the shared instance of persistent coordinate data. In some embodiments, the first and second collocated MR systems may use the same relationship data (e.g., transformation matrix) to relate the position (e.g., location and / or orientation) of the virtual object to the shared instance of persistent coordinate data.

[0091] If it is determined that more than one shared instance of persistent coordinate data exists, then in step 910, a preferred shared instance of persistent coordinate data may be identified. In some embodiments, the instance of persistent coordinate data closest to the MR system may be considered the preferred instance of the shared persistent coordinate data. For example, first and second co-located MR systems may be located in the same room. In some embodiments, the room may include first and second instances of persistent coordinate data, and both instances may be shared across the first and second MR systems (e.g., because they are in the same room). In some embodiments, the first MR system may be closer to the first instance of persistent coordinate data, and the second MR system may be closer to the second instance of persistent coordinate data. In some embodiments, a closer instance of persistent coordinate data may display virtual content more accurately than a more distant instance of persistent coordinate data.

[0092] In step 912, the co-located virtual content may be displayed using a preferred instance of the shared persistent coordinate data. In some embodiments, each MR system may display the co-located virtual content relative to its preferred (e.g., most recent) instance of the shared persistent coordinate data. In some embodiments, different instances of the shared persistent coordinate data may be used, but the co-located virtual content may appear to users of the first and second MR systems in the same spot (e.g., because different relationship data may be used to present the objects in the same location).

[0093] After steps 907, 909, and / or 912, the MR system may return to step 904, which may enable dynamic co-location. For example, the MR system may persistently monitor whether to share persistent coordinate data with other MR systems in the co-location session. In some embodiments, the MR system may poll for persistent coordinate data once every 10 seconds if the MR system does not recognize its current location. In some embodiments, the MR system may poll for persistent coordinate data once every 30 seconds if the MR system recognizes its current location. In some embodiments, a trigger (e.g., a geofencing trigger) may cause the MR system to poll for persistent coordinate data.

[0094] 10 illustrates an exemplary process for connecting with one or more MR systems and initiating a co-located session, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the process for connecting with one or more MR systems may utilize an application connectivity platform (e.g., application connectivity platform 808). In step 1002, one or more co-located session participants may be selected. In some embodiments, the one or more participants may be selected using a user interface of an application (e.g., application 804).

[0095] In step 1004, the participant information may be transmitted to a remote server. In some embodiments, an application (e.g., application 804) may transmit the participant information to an application connectivity platform (e.g., application connectivity platform 808). In some embodiments, the application connectivity platform may transmit the participant information to the remote server. In some embodiments, the remote server may initiate the session.

[0096] In step 1006, the remote server may transmit an invitation and / or token (e.g., an authentication token) to one or more participants based on the participant information. In some embodiments, the remote server may transmit the invitation and / or token to an application connectivity platform (e.g., application connectivity platform 816) running on the invited MR system. In some embodiments, the application connectivity platform may communicate with an application (e.g., application 812). In some embodiments, the application running on the invited MR system may indicate to the user that the user has been invited to a co-located session.

[0097] In step 1006, the invitation to join the co-located session may be accepted, and the user and / or the MR system may join the co-located session. In some embodiments, the user may accept the invitation using a user interface (e.g., of the application 812). In some embodiments, the application may indicate to an application connectivity platform (e.g., the application connectivity platform 816) that the invitation has been accepted. In some embodiments, the application connectivity platform may join the co-located session (e.g., by using a provided authentication token). In some embodiments, once one or more participants join the session, one or more pipes (e.g., Twilio tracks) may be created. In some embodiments, pipes may be authorized. For example, only designated users may transmit data using authorized pipes. In some embodiments, any user may transmit and / or receive data along a pipe. In some embodiments, one or more pipes may be reserved for specific types of data (e.g., pipes for audio, video, and / or general-purpose data).

[0098] The systems and methods for co-locating virtual content described herein can provide several advantages. For example, launching separate instances of applications and / or positioning co-located virtual objects can provide a non-monolocated architecture. Using a non-monolocated architecture, a co-located session can avoid disruption when a master in a monolithic architecture leaves the session. In some embodiments, a monolithic architecture (e.g., a master MR system instructs slave MR systems to utilize specific coordinate systems and / or transformations) may not smoothly continue a co-located session when a master leaves the session. Recalculation may be performed as a new master takes over the session in a monolithic architecture. In some embodiments, a non-monolithic architecture may enable a co-located session where one or more MR systems are not located in the same environment (and therefore may not share a common persistent coordinate system). In some embodiments, a non-monolithic architecture may relieve the master system from the burden of calculating positions for co-located virtual objects in two different persistent coordinate systems.

[0099] According to some embodiments, the system includes a head-mounted device having a display and one or more sensors, and includes steps of receiving first persistent coordinate data, second persistent coordinate data, and relationship data, determining third persistent coordinate data and fourth persistent coordinate data based on input received via the one or more sensors, determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data, determining whether the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data in accordance with determining that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data, and determining whether the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data. and one or more processors configured to perform a method, the method comprising: displaying, via a display of a head-mounted device, a virtual object using the relationship data and the second persistent coordinate data in accordance with a determination that the second persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the fourth persistent coordinate data; displaying, via a display of the head-mounted device, a virtual object using the relationship data and the first persistent coordinate data in accordance with a determination that the second persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the third persistent coordinate data; and not displaying, via a display of the head-mounted device, a virtual object in accordance with a determination that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the third persistent coordinate data. In some examples, the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to a first location and the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to a second location, the second location being closer to a location of the head-mounted device than the first location. In some examples, the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device, and the first persistent coordinate data is received from a second head-mounted device. In some examples, the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device, and the relationship data is received from a second head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving data corresponding to the virtual object. In some embodiments, the third persistent coordinate data corresponds to a current location of the head-worn device. In some embodiments, the relationship data comprises a transformation matrix.

[0100] According to some embodiments, the method includes receiving first persistent coordinate data, second persistent coordinate data, and relationship data; determining third persistent coordinate data and fourth persistent coordinate data based on input received via one or more sensors of the head-worn device; determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data; determining whether the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data in accordance with a determination that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data; displaying a virtual object using the relationship data and the second persistent coordinate data via a display of the head-worn device in accordance with a determination that the second persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the fourth persistent coordinate data; displaying the virtual object using the relationship data and the first persistent coordinate data via a display of the head-worn device in accordance with a determination that the second persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the fourth persistent coordinate data; and not displaying the virtual object via the display of the head-worn device in accordance with a determination that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the third persistent coordinate data. In some embodiments, the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to a first location and the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to a second location, the second location being closer to a location of the head-mounted device than the first location. In some embodiments, the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device and the first persistent coordinate data is received from a second head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device and the relationship data is received from a second head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving data corresponding to a virtual object. In some embodiments, the third persistent coordinate data corresponds to a current location of the head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the relationship data comprises a transformation matrix.

[0101] According to some embodiments, the non-transitory computer readable medium, when executed by one or more processors, provides the one or more processors with a method of receiving first persistent coordinate data, second persistent coordinate data, and relationship data; determining third persistent coordinate data and fourth persistent coordinate data based on input received via one or more sensors of the head-worn device; determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data; and determining whether the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data in accordance with determining that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the third persistent coordinate data. and, in accordance with a determination that the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to the fourth persistent coordinate data, displaying a virtual object via a display of the head-mounted device using the relationship data and the second persistent coordinate data; in accordance with a determination that the second persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the fourth persistent coordinate data, displaying a virtual object via a display of the head-mounted device using the relationship data and the first persistent coordinate data; and in accordance with a determination that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the third persistent coordinate data, not displaying the virtual object via the display of the head-mounted device. In some examples, the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to a first location and the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to a second location, the second location being closer to a location of the head-mounted device than the first location. In some examples, the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device, and the first persistent coordinate data is received from a second head-mounted device. In some examples, the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device, and the relationship data is received from a second head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving data corresponding to the virtual object. In some embodiments, the third persistent coordinate data corresponds to a current location of the head-worn device. In some embodiments, the relationship data comprises a transformation matrix.

[0102] According to some embodiments, the system comprises a head-mounted device having a display and one or more sensors, and one or more processors configured to perform a method including receiving first persistent coordinate data, receiving relationship data, the relationship data relating a position to the first persistent coordinate data, determining second persistent coordinate data based on input received via the one or more sensors, determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the second persistent coordinate data, displaying a virtual object via a display of the head-mounted device based on the first persistent coordinate data and based on the relationship data in accordance with a determination that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the second persistent coordinate data, and not displaying the virtual object via a display of the head-mounted device in accordance with a determination that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the second persistent coordinate data. In some embodiments, the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device, and the method further includes transmitting the second persistent coordinate data to a second head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device, and the first persistent coordinate data is received from a second head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the head-mounted device is a first head-mounted device, and the relationship data is received from a second head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving data corresponding to a virtual object. In some embodiments, the second persistent coordinate data corresponds to a current location of the head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the relationship data comprises a transformation matrix.

[0103] Although the disclosed embodiments have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, elements of one or more implementations may be combined, deleted, modified, or supplemented to form further implementations. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the disclosed embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a wearable head device comprising a display and one or more sensors; one or more processors, receiving first persistent coordinate data, the first persistent coordinate data comprising a transformation matrix relating a virtual coordinate space of a physical environment to a real coordinate space of the physical environment; receiving relationship data, the relationship data relating a location to the first persistent coordinate data; determining first location data identifying a first environment of the wearable head device based on input received via the one or more sensors; determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the first environment of the wearable head device; pursuant to determining that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the first environment of the wearable head device, displaying a virtual object at the location via the display of the wearable head device based on the first persistent coordinate data and further based on the relationship data; and not displaying the virtual object via the display of the wearable head device in accordance with determining that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the first environment of the wearable head device. one or more processors configured to perform a method including: wherein the first persistent coordinate data is determined based on a combination of two or more sets of second persistent coordinate data.

2. The system described in claim 1, wherein the wearable head device is a first wearable head device, and the method further includes transmitting the first location data to a second wearable head device.

3. The system described in claim 1, wherein the wearable head device is a first wearable head device, and receiving the first persistent coordinate data includes receiving the first persistent coordinate data from a second wearable head device.

4. The system described in claim 1, wherein the wearable head device is a first wearable head device, and receiving the relationship data includes receiving the relationship data from a second wearable head device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the method further includes receiving data corresponding to the virtual object.

6. The system described in claim 1, wherein the first environment of the wearable head device corresponds to a room.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the relational data comprises matrix data.

8. A method comprising: receiving, at a wearable head device, first persistent coordinate data, the first persistent coordinate data comprising a transformation matrix relating a virtual coordinate space of a physical environment to a real coordinate space of the physical environment; receiving, at the wearable head device, relationship data relating a position to the first persistent coordinate data; determining first location data identifying a first environment of the wearable head device based on input received via one or more sensors of the wearable head device; determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the first environment of the wearable head device; displaying a virtual object at the location via a display of the wearable head device based on the first persistent coordinate data and further based on the relationship data in accordance with determining that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the first environment of the wearable head device; and not displaying the virtual object via the display of the wearable head device in accordance with determining that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the first environment of the wearable head device. wherein the first persistent coordinate data is determined based on a combination of two or more sets of second persistent coordinate data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the wearable head device is a first wearable head device, and the method further includes transmitting the first location data to a second wearable head device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the wearable head device is a first wearable head device, and receiving the first persistent coordinate data includes receiving the first persistent coordinate data from a second wearable head device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the wearable head device is a first wearable head device, and receiving the relationship data includes receiving the relationship data from a second wearable head device.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving data corresponding to the virtual object.

13. The method described in claim 8, wherein the first environment of the wearable head device corresponds to a room.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the relational data comprises matrix data.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, receiving, at a wearable head device, first persistent coordinate data, the first persistent coordinate data comprising a transformation matrix relating a virtual coordinate space of a physical environment to a real coordinate space of the physical environment; receiving, at the wearable head device, relationship data relating a position to the first persistent coordinate data; determining first location data identifying a first environment of the wearable head device based on input received via one or more sensors of the wearable head device; determining whether the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the first environment of the wearable head device; displaying a virtual object at the location via a display of the wearable head device based on the first persistent coordinate data and further based on the relationship data in accordance with determining that the first persistent coordinate data corresponds to the first environment of the wearable head device; and not displaying the virtual object via the display of the wearable head device in accordance with determining that the first persistent coordinate data does not correspond to the first environment of the wearable head device. wherein the first persistent coordinate data is determined based on a combination of two or more sets of second persistent coordinate data.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the wearable head device is a first wearable head device, and the method further includes transmitting the first location data to a second wearable head device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the wearable head device is a first wearable head device, and receiving the first persistent coordinate data includes receiving the first persistent coordinate data from a second wearable head device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the wearable head device is a first wearable head device, and receiving the relationship data includes receiving the relationship data from a second wearable head device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises receiving data corresponding to the virtual object.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first environment of the wearable head device corresponds to a room.

21. The system described in claim 1, wherein the combination of two or more sets of the second persistent coordinate data includes a weighted average of the two or more sets of the second persistent coordinate data.

22. The system described in claim 21, wherein the weighted average is determined by applying one or more reliability measures to two or more sets of the second persistent coordinate data.

23. The system described in claim 1, wherein the two or more sets of second persistent coordinate data are determined based on at least one observation of the physical environment by one or more of the wearable head device and one or more second wearable head devices.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein receiving the first persistent coordinate data includes receiving the first persistent coordinate data from a remote server.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first persistent coordinate data is determined at the remote server.

26. The system described in claim 25, wherein two or more sets of the second persistent coordinate data are transmitted to the remote server by one or more of the wearable head device and one or more second wearable head devices.

Images