AR Camera FOV Control for Data Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Augmented Reality (AR) systems face challenges in ensuring field-of-view (FOV) compliance with data capture and transmission regulations, particularly in constrained environments where unintentional or intentional capture of non-relevant data occurs, leading to compliance issues that existing methods like physical draping or post-capture editing are insufficient or impractical.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that slaves the pointing direction of a video camera to user motion, using a marker-based system to automatically control the FOV, ensuring that only a user-defined allowable field of view is captured and transmitted, with key codes for technician/customer/master control to enforce compliance without interfering with AR overlays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical draping or post-capture editing is used to prevent capture of non-relevant data, then data capture compliance is improved, but device complexity and operational impracticality increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining allowable FOV boundaries and alignment conditions before data capture begins. The camera is configured with predetermined FOV limits and alignment criteria that are established in advance, eliminating the need for physical draping or post-capture editing to enforce compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical systems (physical draping, manual editing processes) with an automated electronic system that uses sensor data, FOV calculations, and algorithmic control to dynamically enforce data capture compliance through software-based FOV limiting and alignment monitoring.
2Adaptability or versatility
If FOV is widened to provide peripheral vision and immersive environment, then AR experience quality is improved, but risk of capturing non-compliant data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic FOV management where the effective FOV is not fixed but adapts in real-time based on alignment conditions. The allowable FOV boundaries are dynamically adjusted according to the camera's orientation relative to the target object, enabling the system to maintain wide FOV for immersive experience while automatically constraining capture to compliant areas when alignment conditions are met.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of FOV from a static value to a dynamic parameter that varies based on alignment conditions. By calculating allowable FOV boundaries as a function of camera orientation, distance, and predefined compliance criteria, the system transforms FOV from a fixed physical constraint to an adaptive parameter that simultaneously supports immersive experience and compliance enforcement.
3Reliability
If automated FOV control system is implemented to prevent non-compliant data capture, then compliance reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by integrating multiple compliance enforcement mechanisms into a unified automated FOV control system. The same system performs FOV boundary calculation, alignment condition monitoring, dynamic boundary adjustment, and capture authorization, eliminating the need for separate physical draping, manual monitoring, and post-capture editing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated FOV control system is self-regulating, automatically calculating allowable boundaries, monitoring alignment conditions, and adjusting FOV constraints without external intervention. The system serves itself by using its own sensor data and internal algorithms to enforce compliance, eliminating the need for external physical constraints or manual oversight.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an AR environment in which the pointing direction of the video camera is slaved to field technician motion to capture a video signal within a camera FOV of an object at arm's length from the technician and remotely-generated hand gestures for manipulation of the object are overlaid on the video signal to instruct the technician in manipulation of the object, a customer-defined key code and FOV limitations are used to exclude portions of a scene for data capture and transmission compliance. If the video camera pointing direction does not satisfy an alignment condition to a marker in the scene, the camera is controlled to exclude at least a portion of the camera FOV that lies outside a user-defined allowable FOV from capture within the video signal. The customer-defined key code includes at least technician identification, marker pairing and specified tolerance fields that define the allowable FOV. The key code allows the technician to control the FOV exclusions to protect the technician from capturing and/or transmitting data in the scene that would violate customer or country policies or legal requirements.