Avatar Allocation in Augmented Reality Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
In augmented reality and virtual reality environments, efficiently allocating virtual avatars to physical or virtual spaces is challenging, especially when the number of avatars exceeds the available physical spaces.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that generates an augmented reality environment, determines the number of virtual avatars and available physical avatar spaces, and allocates avatars to these spaces. When physical spaces are insufficient, the method creates augmented avatar spaces or transitions to a virtual reality environment to accommodate excess avatars.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If virtual avatars are allocated to physical avatar spaces in an augmented reality environment, then the realism and user experience are improved, but the system cannot accommodate more avatars than available physical spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the system from a two-state model (physical or virtual reality) to a three-dimensional solution space by introducing augmented reality as an intermediate dimension. When physical avatar spaces are insufficient, the system switches to AR mode where virtual avatar spaces are overlaid on the physical environment, allowing accommodation of more avatars while preserving spatial awareness of the physical world.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different environment modes (virtual reality, augmented reality, and physical space) based on the number of avatars that need accommodation. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between realism and capacity by selecting the appropriate mode: pure VR for maximum capacity, AR for balanced capacity and realism, and physical space mapping when avatar count is low.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system transitions to a virtual reality environment to accommodate excess avatars, then avatar capacity is improved, but the seamless integration with the real-world environment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses augmented reality as an intermediary environment that bridges the gap between pure virtual reality and the physical world. When avatar capacity exceeds available physical spaces, the AR environment overlays virtual elements onto the real-world view, maintaining the user's connection to the physical environment while accommodating additional virtual avatars through virtual space extensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the avatar accommodation problem into two distinct approaches: physical space mapping for avatars that need real-world correspondence, and virtual space overlay for excess avatars. This segmentation allows the system to maintain seamless real-world integration for the core group while accommodating additional avatars in the virtual layer without compromising the overall user experience.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple virtual avatars are positioned in the same physical space, then avatar capacity is maintained, but spatial obstruction and reduced user experience occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves spatial obstruction by transitioning from two-dimensional physical space mapping to three-dimensional augmented reality overlay. When multiple avatars need to occupy the same physical location, the system renders them as transparent or semi-transparent virtual elements in the AR environment, allowing them to coexist without physically blocking each other's views while maintaining spatial awareness of the real-world environment.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method is provided. The method includes generating an augmented reality environment, determining a number of virtual avatars requiring an avatar space within said augmented reality environment, determining a number of physical avatar spaces that are available for occupation within the augmented reality environment, comparing the number of virtual avatars requiring an avatar space to the number of available physical avatar spaces and, when the number of virtual avatars requiring an avatar space within the augmented reality environment is less than or equal to the number of available physical avatar spaces, assigning a different available physical avatar space to each virtual avatar.