AR Interface Element Projection and Clustering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality displays face challenges in efficiently and aesthetically presenting location-based points of interest, leading to screen clutter and reduced usability due to the lack of effective clustering and deoverlapping of interface elements.
Innovation Solution
A method that projects points of interest onto a cylindrical surface, identifies overlapping elements, and uses a neighbor list to cluster and deoverlap them before rendering, optimizing the display to improve user experience without increasing processing workload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If points of interest are displayed as graphical objects in an augmented reality interface, then users can access location-based information, but the display becomes cluttered and usability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display of points of interest by organizing them into hierarchical groups based on spatial relationships. Interface elements are divided into parent groups and child elements, allowing information to be presented in manageable portions rather than all at once, thus reducing visual clutter while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of organization by projecting interface elements onto a cylindrical surface and using angular coordinates (azimuth and elevation) to arrange elements. This spatial arrangement in three-dimensional space allows multiple points of interest to be displayed without overlapping, improving usability while preserving information.
2Loss of information
If multiple interface elements are displayed to show all points of interest, then complete information is provided, but processing workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing spatial relationships between interface elements in advance. The system computes angular coordinates, identifies overlapping elements, and creates deoverlapping arrangements before actual rendering, which reduces processing workload during real-time display while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual model or copy of the interface element arrangement in a simplified cylindrical coordinate system. This virtual representation allows the system to analyze spatial relationships and determine optimal display arrangements without the computational complexity of rendering actual three-dimensional graphics, thus improving processing efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If interface elements are arranged to minimize overlap, then visual clarity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter space by representing interface element positions using angular coordinates (azimuth and elevation) on a cylinder rather than traditional three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates. This parameter transformation simplifies the detection of overlapping elements and the computation of deoverlapping arrangements, reducing algorithmic complexity while improving visual clarity.
4Productivity
If points of interest are clustered and deoverlapped, then display efficiency improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs clustering and deoverlapping operations as preliminary actions during data preparation phases, storing the results in advance. By pre-computing which interface elements should be clustered together and how they should be deoverlapped, the system reduces real-time processing time while maintaining high display efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided in order to provide an efficient, aesthetically pleasing display of points of interest in an AR interface that maximizes usability and display efficiency. In this regard, the method, apparatus and computer program product may utilize a mobile terminal to perform pre-processing of interface elements to reduce display clutter and increase efficiency of display processing. Interface elements may be projected onto a cylindrical surface to locate the interface elements relative to the mobile terminal. Interface elements may be analyzed in the projection to identify interface elements that are proximate to one another. Data indicating that particular interface elements are proximate to one another may be stored in a data structure for reference prior to displaying of the interface elements in an AR interface.