Anchor Objects for Spatial Consistency in Shared XR Environments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies face challenges in managing virtual objects and ensuring seamless experiences across multiple users, particularly in maintaining spatial consistency and allowing users to interact with out-of-reach virtual objects without requiring physical movement within large environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an anchor object system that allows users to move virtual objects and avatars in a shared XR environment, where the anchor object serves as a common reference point for all users, enabling consistent mapping and interaction with virtual objects by allowing users to manipulate the anchor object to reposition virtual objects and avatars relative to it, even when users are not co-located.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users are required to physically move within large environments to interact with virtual objects, then spatial consistency is maintained, but user accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an anchor object as an intermediary between the user and the virtual environment. By manipulating the anchor object, users can reposition virtual objects and avatars without physically moving, thereby maintaining spatial consistency while improving ease of operation and accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical requirement of physical user movement with a digital manipulation system. Users interact with the anchor object through digital interfaces (e.g., gestures, clicks) to reposition virtual elements, substituting physical locomotion with digital control mechanisms
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual objects are fixed in the environment, then spatial consistency is maintained, but user interaction flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic virtual objects that can be repositioned relative to the anchor object. This allows the virtual environment to adapt to user needs while maintaining consistent spatial relationships, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and stability
3Ease of operation
If users are in different physical locations, then accessibility is improved, but spatial consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor object serves as a universal reference point for all users regardless of their physical location. By anchoring virtual objects to this common reference, the system maintains consistent spatial mapping across distributed users, enabling both accessibility and precision
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an anchor object to which virtual objects can be consistently mapped in an artificial reality (XR) environment. In some implementations, the virtual objects can include avatars of users accessing the XR environment on respective XR systems. The anchor object can be a virtual object, such as a menu or shape, or a physical object, such as a stage computing device positioned in the users' surrounding real-world environments. The users can move the anchor object as rendered on their respective XR systems, which causes reciprocal movement of their corresponding avatars on other users' XR systems. Thus, virtual objects can be consistently referenced across all of the XR systems accessing the XR environment.