360° Virtual Environment Viewing With Real-Time Spatial Collaboration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual viewing systems lack real-time interaction, directional guidance, and collaborative functionalities, hindering effective communication in industrial or commercial settings requiring precise spatial references and role-based permissions.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing 360° image technology with VR devices and a web server for real-time, interactive virtual viewing, enabling collaborative decision-making and supporting integration of 2D images, with features like directional guidance and role-based access control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing virtual viewing solutions are used, then asynchronous or non-interactive presentations are achieved, but real-time feedback and collaborative functionalities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical environment through 360° imaging technology, allowing users to view and interact with a digital replica of the real world. This virtual copy enables asynchronous access while maintaining the ability to simulate real-time interaction through shared viewing spaces and collaborative annotations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual intermediary space where multiple users can simultaneously view the same 360° environment and interact through the system interface. This intermediary layer enables real-time collaboration and feedback mechanisms between users who are physically separated, bridging the gap between asynchronous access and real-time interaction.
2Measurement precision
If physical presence is required for viewing, then precise spatial references and collaborative discussion are achieved, but time and economic resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an exact visual copy of the physical environment through 360° photography, capturing all spatial references, dimensions, and visual details. This digital twin allows users to measure distances, navigate spaces, and discuss locations with the same precision as if physically present, eliminating the need for travel while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from physical three-dimensional presence to virtual three-dimensional viewing through 360° imaging. Users can rotate, zoom, and pan through the virtual environment, accessing spatial information from multiple dimensions and perspectives without physically traveling to the location, thus saving time while maintaining spatial reference accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If 360° image technology is used, then immersive virtual viewing is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the virtual viewing system universal by supporting multiple device types including smartphones, tablets, and computers, in addition to traditional VR headsets. This multi-platform approach allows users to access the immersive 360° experience through their existing devices, reducing the need for specialized expensive equipment while maintaining high adaptability and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses 360° image technology to create a virtual copy of the environment that can be displayed on various screen formats and device types. This copied visual information can be rendered universally across different platforms, reducing device complexity requirements compared to creating custom hardware solutions, while still providing immersive viewing experiences.
4Reliability
If multiple users are brought together physically, then collaborative decision-making is achieved, but logistics and coordination complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual intermediary platform where multiple users can simultaneously access the same 360° environment and collaborate in real-time. The system provides shared viewing spaces, annotation tools, and communication features that enable coordinated decision-making without the logistical complexity of organizing physical meetings, reducing coordination requirements while maintaining collaborative reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple user interactions into a single unified virtual space where all participants can view, annotate, and discuss the same environment simultaneously. This consolidation of collaborative functions into one integrated platform simplifies coordination requirements compared to organizing multiple separate physical gatherings, while maintaining the quality of collaborative decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, and a related process using the system, to collaboratively view a virtual representation of an environment or of products inserted in an environment, includes two or more local stations, each comprising a processor, a memory, a monitor, and a data transmission and reception system; and a WEB server configured to store a digital replica of the environment composed of spatially anchored media objects, allow real-time bidirectional synchronization of directional indicators between the local stations, enable the placement and interaction with multimedia elements and contextual annotations within the environment, and adapt the graphical interface based on user role and session state.