Collaborative Virtual Environment for Remote Site Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual reality systems are inadequate for collaborative interactions, particularly for assessing physical sites, as they require physical travel due to insufficient collaboration capabilities, leading to inefficiencies in time, cost, and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating collaborative virtual environments that enable remote users to interact effectively through real-time communication and synchronized virtual overlays within a shared virtual space, allowing users to view and annotate physical locations, facilitating remote collaboration by establishing communication channels and presenting virtual environments generated from photogrammetric analysis of images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If virtual reality systems are used for site assessment, then physical travel is reduced, but collaboration capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a unified virtual environment system that integrates real-time communication, collaborative annotation, and immersive visualization. Multiple users can simultaneously interact with the same virtual representation of a physical site, sharing views and annotations in real-time, thereby achieving both time savings from reduced travel and adequate collaboration capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual environment serves as an intermediary between remote users and the physical site. Instead of requiring users to physically travel to the site, the system creates a digital representation that mediates the interaction, allowing users to examine and discuss site details remotely while maintaining collaborative effectiveness through shared visual context.
2Loss of energy
If multiple users collaborate remotely, then travel costs are reduced, but real-time interaction capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous real-time interaction among multiple users through persistent communication channels and synchronized virtual environment updates. Users can continuously share observations, annotations, and discussions without interruption, maintaining the speed and fluidity of in-person collaboration while eliminating travel requirements.
3Loss of information
If virtual environments are generated from images, then site representation is achieved, but interactivity and collaboration features are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual environment transitions from a static image representation to a dynamic, interactive system. Users can navigate through the virtual space, zoom into details, and add annotations that appear in real-time for all users to see. The system dynamically updates the virtual environment based on user actions, maintaining accurate site representation while enabling rich interactivity and collaboration.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for facilitating virtual collaboration between users within virtual environments are disclosed. A plurality of users access a collaborative virtual environment system using interface devices to establish a virtual collaboration session in which users communicate via a bidirectional real-time communication channel and interact within a virtual environment. Annotations or other user interactions within the virtual environment are automatically propagated to each user in the virtual collaboration session in order to facilitate collaboration. Data from such virtual collaboration sessions may be captured for later use.