Cloud XR Localization Using Persistent Spatial Maps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing XR systems face challenges in providing a realistic and immersive experience due to reliance on spatial information collected relative to different orientations for each user instance, leading to computational inefficiencies and latency issues.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a persistent spatial information system that creates, stores, and retrieves maps from remote storage, allowing devices to access pre-built environment maps, reducing computational load and enabling efficient localization through cloud-based services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If Wi-Fi or Bluetooth beacons are used for location tracking in AR applications, then location data can be obtained, but the battery consumption increases and location accuracy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces beacons as intermediary devices that emit location information. These beacons act as mediators between the AR terminal and the location service, allowing the terminal to obtain precise location data through passive reception of beacon signals without activating power-intensive components like GPS or Wi-Fi scanning, thus resolving the contradiction between location accuracy and battery consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces active mechanical scanning systems (Wi-Fi scanning, Bluetooth scanning) with passive signal reception. Instead of actively searching for location information which consumes battery, the system substitutes this with receiving pre-emitted beacon signals, eliminating the need for continuous scanning while maintaining location accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If multiple location services are integrated to improve location accuracy, then location precision increases, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the location service into two independent parts: beacon deployment (infrastructure side) and beacon reception (terminal side). This segmentation allows the complex task of location tracking to be divided into simple, independent functions - beacons only need to emit signals while terminals only need to receive and process them, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high location accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If GPS is used for location tracking, then location data can be obtained, but the location accuracy is insufficient for AR applications and battery is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces beacons as intermediary devices that provide location information locally. Instead of relying on satellite-based GPS which has inherent accuracy limitations and high power consumption, the beacon intermediary provides proximity-based location data that is both more accurate for indoor/urban environments and energy-efficient through passive signal emission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4046139B1Cross reality system with localization service
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 MAGIC LEAP INC
  • EP4046139B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4046139B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4046139B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cross reality system enables any of multiple devices to efficiently and accurately access previously stored maps and render virtual content specified in relation to those maps. The cross reality system may include a cloud-based localization service that responds to requests from devices to localize with respect to a stored map. The request may include one or more sets of feature descriptors extracted from an image of the physical world around the device. Those features may be posed relative to a coordinate frame used by the local device. The localization service may identify one or more stored maps with a matching set of features. Based on a transformation required to align the features from the device with the matching set of features, the localization service may compute and return to the device a transformation to relate its local coordinate frame to a coordinate frame of the stored map.