AR Environment Recognition via Hierarchical Entity Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for determining a user's physical environment in augmented reality (AR) are inefficient due to high positioning errors and slow entity identification, making it difficult to provide relevant virtual-reality objects in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A user device captures image data using cameras and performs hierarchical classification to identify predefined entities, determining the geometric layout and type of the physical environment, allowing for the display of environment-based virtual-reality objects relevant to the user's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional techniques are used to determine user's physical environment in AR, then the system can provide basic positioning and entity identification, but the positioning errors are high and entity identification is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the environment understanding process into distinct modules: image capture, entity identification using classifiers, geometric layout determination, and virtual object placement. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, improving overall system efficiency and accuracy without compromising speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining multiple classifiers for different entities and pre-establishing geometric layout structures. This preparation enables rapid real-time classification and environment understanding without computational delays during actual AR operation.
2Reliability
If comprehensive entity identification is performed to accurately determine physical environment type, then relevant virtual-reality objects can be provided, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using a hierarchical classifier system that processes entities in order of importance and likelihood. The system performs complete classification only when necessary, using simpler heuristics for common scenarios, thereby reducing computational power consumption while maintaining reliable environment identification accuracy.
3Productivity
If real-time entity identification is implemented to provide contextually relevant virtual objects, then user experience is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal classifier system that can identify multiple types of entities (people, objects, surfaces, places) using a single integrated framework. This multi-functional approach reduces system complexity compared to having separate specialized systems for each entity type, while maintaining real-time processing capability for providing contextually relevant virtual objects.
Data Source
AI summary
In an exemplary process for providing content in an augmented reality environment, image data correspond to a physical environment are obtained. Based on the image data, predefined entities of the plurality of predefined entities in the physical environment are identified using classifiers corresponding to predefined entities. Based on the one or more of the identified predefined entities, a geometric layout of the physical environment is determined. Based on the geometric layout, an area corresponding to a particular entity is determined. The particular entity corresponds to one or more identified predefined entities. Based on the area corresponding to the particular entity, the particular entity in the physical environment is identified using classifiers corresponding to the determined area. Based on the identified particular entity, a type of the physical environment is determined. Based on the type of the physical environment, virtual-reality objects are displayed corresponding to a representation of the physical environment.