Hierarchical Place Model Management for Augmented Reality Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality content authoring systems face inefficiencies in managing and updating virtual objects in real-time environments, particularly in indoor settings, due to the lack of immediate positioning devices and impracticality of applying location models, leading to excessive costs and time consumption in database building and content provision.
Innovation Solution
A system that hierarchically classifies physical spaces, stores place models, and uses a positioning unit to determine user location, allowing for the loading and management of virtual objects at specific locations within these models, enhancing computing efficiency and content selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a 3D modeling tool is used to author augmented reality contents with physical objects, then the contents can be augmented with virtual objects, but a lot of costs and time is consumed to build and update the database
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses 2D images as copies of physical objects instead of creating full 3D models. The image processing unit extracts features from 2D images to create simplified representations that can be matched against real-world objects, dramatically reducing the time and computational resources needed to build and update the database while maintaining sufficient accuracy for augmented reality applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential features needed for object recognition and augmented reality placement from physical objects. Instead of storing complete 3D models, the system extracts key visual features from 2D images that are sufficient for matching and content placement, reducing database complexity and update time
2Ease of operation
If HTML contents are visualized on a plane with latitude/longitude coordinates, then the layout can be set on a page, but it has practical problems in indoor environments where position devices are absent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different coordinate systems and positioning methods for different environments. For outdoor locations, it uses latitude/longitude coordinates, while for indoor environments, it transitions to image-based feature matching and relative positioning. This local adaptation allows the system to maintain ease of operation in each specific context while achieving versatility across diverse environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic positioning system that automatically adapts between different coordinate systems based on the environment. The system can switch from GPS-based latitude/longitude coordinates in outdoor settings to image-feature-based relative coordinates in indoor settings, making the layout system both easy to operate and adaptable to various environments
3Productivity
If contents are disposed based on kind of contents or distance from user, then the place range can be determined, but it is impossible to augment only necessary contents within a specific place
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the content selection process into multiple hierarchical levels: first selecting contents based on place type, then refining selection based on user position within the place, and finally filtering by content relevance to the specific context. This segmented approach enables precise selection of necessary contents while maintaining efficient processing at each stage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification of contents based on place models and categories before final content selection. By pre-organizing contents according to place types and characteristics, the system reduces the search space and enables faster, more accurate selection of relevant contents while maintaining high precision in content provision
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system for authoring and providing augmented reality contents, which includes a database storing a plurality of place models expressing an inherent physical place, a positioning unit for determining a current position of a user, a place model processing unit for searching and loading a place model corresponding to the current position of the user from the database, and a virtual object processing unit for disposing a virtual object expressed through a HTML document at a predetermined location in the loaded place model, wherein the plurality of place models is hierarchically stored so that at least one place model has at least one another place model of a subordinate concept.