Augmented Reality Object Interaction with Proximity-Triggered Animations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing augmented and mixed reality systems lack realistic interaction between virtual objects and users, failing to provide contextual and reactive interactions that enhance the immersive experience.

Innovation Solution

A system that tracks the position and orientation of electronic devices and virtual objects within a physical environment, using detection of threshold distances to trigger animations and interactions that are contextually appropriate, enhancing the realism of virtual object placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If virtual objects are placed in augmented reality environment, then immersive experience is enhanced, but interaction realism is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmersive experienceVSAvoidinteraction realism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by detecting user presence through device tracking and triggering appropriate virtual object responses. The virtual object's animation state changes based on user proximity and interaction, creating a closed-loop system where user actions generate feedback that enhances interaction realism while maintaining immersive experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary action by pre-defining multiple animation states and transition conditions for virtual objects. When user presence is detected, the system can immediately transition to appropriate pre-prepared animations, ensuring realistic interactions are ready and available without delay, thus improving interaction realism while preserving immersion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If virtual objects interact with users, then user engagement improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser engagementVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments interaction complexity by dividing virtual object behavior into distinct animation states (e.g., idle, alerted, interacting) with clearly defined transition conditions. Each state has specific trigger conditions and response behaviors, making the complex interaction system manageable and easier to operate while maintaining high user engagement through realistic responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If contextual interactions are implemented, then interaction realism enhances, but detection and measurement difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteraction realismVSAvoidtrigger detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses device position and orientation data as an intermediary to detect user presence and interaction intent. Rather than directly measuring complex contextual factors, the system tracks the electronic device's spatial parameters and uses these as proxies to trigger appropriate virtual object animations, simplifying detection while maintaining interaction realism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3746867B1Interaction system for augmented reality objects
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3746867B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3746867B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3746867B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

In a system and method providing for interaction with virtual objects, and interaction between virtual objects, in an augmented reality, or mixed reality, or virtual reality, environment, detected conditions may trigger animated responses from virtual objects placed in a view of a physical environment. The detected conditions may include the detection of a user within a set threshold distance or proximity, the detection of another virtual object within a set threshold placement distance or proximity, the detection of particular environmental conditions in the view of the physical environment, and other such factors. Specific behavioral animations of the virtual objects may be triggered in response to detection of specific virtual objects and/or other conditions.