Augmented Reality Pointing Entity for Attention Direction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing augmented reality (AR) systems face challenges in effectively directing user attention to specific points of interest (POIs) within AR content, especially when POIs are located on sides of three-dimensional structures not facing the user.

Innovation Solution

The system employs differential shading parameters to render POIs differently from the rest of the AR environment, creating a spotlight effect, and generates a pointing entity, such as a conical structure, to guide the user's attention to the POI.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If uniform shading is used for AR content, then the appearance of inserted content is maintained, but user attention cannot be effectively directed to specific points of interest

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser attention directionVSAvoidPOI visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies differential shading parameters to specific regions of the inserted content corresponding to points of interest, while maintaining uniform shading for the rest of the content. This local differentiation enables user attention direction without compromising the overall appearance of the AR content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces pointing entities as intermediary visual elements that guide user attention to POIs. These entities serve as mediators between the POI location and the user's field of view, providing directional guidance without altering the underlying content appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If pointing entities are added to guide user attention, then POI locateability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePOI locateabilityVSAvoidrendering system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the AR content into regions of interest and applies different rendering parameters only to those segments. This selective approach reduces the complexity burden compared to applying special effects to the entire content, while still achieving effective POI guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes in shading and rendering properties to create pointing entities and differential shading effects. By adjusting visual parameters rather than adding complex structural elements, the system achieves enhanced POI locateability with minimal increase in rendering complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3714439B1Directing user attention
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3714439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3714439B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3714439B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

Systems and methods for drawing attention to points of interest within inserted content are provided. For example, the inserted content may include augmented reality content that is inserted into a physical space or a representation of the physical space such as an image. An example system and method may include receiving an image and identifying content to display over the image. The system and method may also include identifying a location within the image to display the content and identifying a point of interest of the content. Additionally, the example system and method may also include triggering display of the content overlaid on the image by identifying a portion of the content based on the point of interest, rendering the portion of the content using first shading parameters; and rendering the content other than the portion using second shading parameters.